Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

We have a lease agreement on our home We allowed an existing cat with an additional $5000 security deposit. The lease ends June 30. However, the cat has died and the tenant wants the $5000 refunded immediately without a visual inspection or a blacklight inspection. Is it mandatory to return the pet deposit before the end of the lease?


Asked on 1/31/10, 6:41 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Melvin C. Belli The Belli Law Firm

No you don�t have to refund the deposit until they leave. As a gesture of good will you could schedule an interim inspection to make a determination if the cat caused any damage and deal with this issue at that time.

Good luck and hope that helps.

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Answered on 2/06/10, 2:27 pm
Scott Linden Scott H. Linden, Esq.

Absolutely not. The security is for the term of the lease. The fact that the pet passed away does not require any early inspectin or early return of security. Perhaps they will get another?

Better to just have them wait out the full term.

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Answered on 2/09/10, 3:19 pm


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