What do you do if your tenants cause damage to your Sacramento rental? There is a great deal to learn about the real estate investment business. While everything can look great about your investment property on paper, dealing with people is not so cut and dried as working with numbers. Whatever you do, do not skip any step in screening tenants, especially checking references and contacting previous landlords. Even with the most up-to-date and thorough screening processes, landlords can expect even the best tenants to cause some damage. The state of California is a strong advocate for tenants rights. In many cases they surpass that of the owner.
Tenants are the life bread of your business plan, and you must understand what kind of trouble you may face if you lack previous property management and don’t have strong people skills. By taking the time to understand the consequences, you will know where to focus your time and energy, and resources to avert damage to your investments before it ever occurs. Read on to discover what to do if your tenants cause damage to your Sacramento rental property.
If you feel you have had enough of the rental business and want to retire, call me today at (916) 300-7962. I buys homes cash and fast in all areas of Sacramento. I mainly buy homes cash with tenants inside and still residing in the home. This can be helpful to eliminate vacancies and keep your cash flow to the very end without interruptions. Visit https://www.DarrenBuysSacramentoHomes.com/ or click here to see if selling your home is best for you https://youtu.be/0ULfAybPjCY
This Photo was of a Rental in Bought Cash in South Sacramento
Cause
The first thing you need to do if your tenants cause damage to your Sacramento rental property is to carefully examine the rental unit to determine the cause of the damage. Unfortunately, accidents happen; even the best of tenants may cause unforeseen damage that goes beyond the normal wear and tear that is a part of the expense of owning rental properties. Other damages can occur when tenants fail to maintain their housing correctly. And while dealing with repairs is a necessary part of rental property management, landlords could prevent damage from angry tenants.
Tenant Responsibility
Once your tenants cause damage to your Sacramento rental property and you have determined the cause, you will need to take steps to ensure the tenant pays the repair expenses they are responsible for following the terms outlined in the rental or lease agreement. Often landlords deduct the total costs for such damages from security deposits at the end of the lease agreement. If the damage is extreme, you may need to take legal action against the tenants. Should your attorney or insurance company request the information, you will require photographic evidence and documentation of the damage and keep any estimates and receipts from the repairs..
KEEP IN MIND-Automatic Cleaning charges are prohibited:
As of 1 April 2025 California established several new laws regarding cleaning and deposits.
Its called AB 2801 also prohibits automatic charges for cleaning and/or carpet cleaning unless those charges are reasonably necessary to restore the property to its condition at the beginning of the tenancy.
Some landlords have been charging for cleaning as if it were required every time. I have seen leases with long lists of pre-agreed cleaning charges with tenants. That policy functions as a non-refundable security deposit which is illegal. Landlords should remove that language from their lease.
This does not limit a landlord’s ability to charge for cleaning when it is needed to restore the home to its pre-rental condition (minus normal wear and tear). Here is a link to AB 2801
New laws starting 1 April, 2025 have a new method for dealing with rental deposits. AB 2801 Requires 4 Times Landlords Must Take Photos For Deposit Deductions (And Forbids Mandated Cleaning Charges)
Landlord Responsibility
If I were you I would DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT AND THEN DOCUMENT everything and save all emails and texts. for at least 3 years after they move out. If you have a phone conversation,I recommend sending a summary of the conversation to the tenant and make sure they acknowledge it
If your tenants continually cause damage to your Sacramento rental property, you should examine your property management skills and responsibility in maintaining tenant communications. For example, tenants may learn that you simply do not respond to their calls, causing minor problems to become significant damage. Middle-of-the-night phone calls and disputes over parking spaces can become irksome, but these little things matter more than you may realize. Building solid relationships with tenants can help avoid issues with deliberate damage and help maintain the integrity of your property. Frankly, its usually the little things unanswered that escalate into Mountains. If your not good at managing people and solving problems, I recommend hiring a professional. 1 April 2025 has new laws affecting hire practices for handymen. See AB 2622 It Raises The Daily Limit For Handymen From $500 To $1000
Darren Buys Homes Cash
I became a landlord In Sacramento for the very first time in 1996. I have experienced a multitude of personalities. What I learned is that you can be the greatest landlord ever and still get screwed. Keep in mind its not an attack on you, its that people have ISSUES sometimes and no matter what you do, you can’t control other peoples reactions or responses to the challenges of life. Over the past 30 years I have bought and sold homes in Sacrament, Citrus Heights, Oak Park, Del Paos Heights, Florin and North Highlands. During my career as a realtor/Broker I have sold and managed homes for Lenders and Banks and corportations all over the Greater Sacramento Area.
It was the experience of being a landlord that changed my career and life. After returning from an oversees tour in The Air Force I bought a condo, then rented it and then became a Realtor, then a Real Estate Broker which led me to buying and fixing homes. As the Owner of Darren Buys Houses Cash it makes it easy to be a landlord. Before your tenants cause damage to your Sacramento rental property, why not let the pros at Darren Buys Houses Cash help you with your property management game? Darren Buys Houses Cash knows the laws that protect landlords like you and can help you I have resources that can assist you with your screening process, rental agreements, and every other aspect of managing your investment properties, lowering the overall risks of damage ever happening. From real estate investment to exit strategies to locating the best rental properties in Sacramento, Darren Buys Houses Cash can help you build your skills; Darren Buys Houses Cash makes it easy to be a successful landlord! Darren Buys Houses Cash has access and resources to full-service teams of the most highly regarded experts from every walk of the real estate industry. Darren Buys Houses Cash can give you guidance to help you manage your properties. Contact Darren Buys Houses Cash at (916)300-7962. click here to see if selling your home is best for you https://youtu.be/0ULfAybPjCY
