Q: Landlord is replacing water pipes and removing mold - expects me to live in house during construction.
I'm renting a mid-century 2 bedroom house in Santa Ana, CA and the landlord is beginning construction on Monday to replace all the clean water pipes (I.e. incoming water, not sewer system). Construction will include tearing down walls in 2 bathrooms and kitchen to access pipes, and also removing the floor in those rooms. Adjacent rooms, like bedrooms and hallway, are affected because walls are gone. They are asking me to not be in the house from 8am to 4pm any day, but say the water will be turned on at night. Construction period is expected to take 7 days. Landlord is deducting a 7-day $500/month prorated amount from my $2,700 monthly rent. I run my design business from my home office, which is difficult to relocate and I expect to lose work hours and revenue. I expect there will be construction dust and exposed mold. What are my rights in regards to fair and healthy living environment, reimbursement for temporary housing, and lost revenue?
A: Your landlord may have to pay for reasonable temporary accommodations and related losses during such construction. More details are necessary to provide a professional analysis of your issue. The best first step is an Initial Consultation with an Attorney such as myself. You can read more about me, my credentials, awards, honors, testimonials, and media appearances/ publications on my law practice website, www.AEesq.com. I practice law in CA, NY, MA, and DC in the following areas of law: Business & Contracts, Criminal Defense, Divorce & Child Custody, and Education Law. This answer does not constitute legal advice; make any predictions, guarantees, or warranties; or create any Attorney-Client relationship.
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