Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

I have a rental home and there was a problem with the heater. As soon my renters let me know there was a problem, I got it fixed within two days. My renters were using the heater for two months before they told me that it wasn't working right. Now they are asking me to pay an $800 gas bill. Is that my responsibility?


Asked on 2/08/12, 6:53 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Bryan Whipple Bryan R. R. Whipple, Attorney at Law

Well, it certainly doesn't sound like your responsibility....even if you normally pay the gas bill, you may not be responsible for an excessive use of gas due to the tenants' failure to report a problem. However, most often the gas bill is paid by the tenants, and I do not believe they can shift the burden to you to pay for excessive gas use just because they had a heater problem which they failed to report. I believe there is something in the Civil Code that obliges tenants to report maintenance issues.

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Answered on 2/08/12, 8:18 pm


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