Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

As landlord, any action required from me once knowing tenant sleep in covered/unheated patio?

My rental house with three bedrooms (1600 sqft) is rented to a three people family. It is recently found that instead of sleeping in one of the three bedrooms, the son is actually sleep in the covered/unheated patio with space heater, the reason for this is that he likes big space and the patio is around 300 sqft which doesn't count as part of the 1600 sqft. Obviously the patio was never meant to be used as bedroom period. Here is my questions:

1] Could this cause any issue and I am responsible for anything due to this arrangement?

2] As landlord, should I do anything under the circumstance?

3] If this should be concerned and stopped, what base I should use to do so?

Thanks in advance!


Asked on 3/19/12, 12:42 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

George Shers Law Offices of Georges H. Shers

Assuming that there is nothing dangerous in the neighborhood, such as wild animals or the patio is next to an uncovered swimming pool, and that you do not pay for the extra electricity used, I do not see that you have any additional liability problems. You might want to check if they do anything else that is unconventional that might cause damage to the structure.

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Answered on 3/19/12, 1:04 pm
Bryan Whipple Bryan R. R. Whipple, Attorney at Law

When I was about 10 years old, I did the same thing at my parents' three-bedroom house where I had a bedroom of my own. The unheated (but covered and screened-in) patio was just more fun! Don't worry about it.

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Answered on 3/19/12, 2:52 pm


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