Q: If my landlords dogs chewed my car bumper are they responsible to pay for the repairs?
I rent a guest house on my landlords land, while they live in their house. They have 2 big dogs, one chewed up my front bumper on my car. I am wondering if they are responsible to pay for the damages. There is nothing on the lease stating they “aren’t responsible for any of my property damages.” When I confronted them about it, they said “well that’s ranch life.” It is a brand new car and will be expensive, how do I go about this?
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A:
In this situation, your landlord could be held responsible for the damage caused by their dogs. In California, pet owners are generally liable for any damage their animals cause to someone else's property. Since you rent the guest house, your landlord has a duty to ensure that their pets do not cause harm to your belongings, including your car.
You can begin by gathering evidence of the damage, such as photos of your car, along with any proof that the landlord's dogs were responsible. Keep records of your communications with your landlord, including their admission that their dogs caused the damage.
If they refuse to pay for the repairs, you may want to explore filing a claim with their homeowner's insurance or pursuing the matter in small claims court. In many cases, California law allows tenants to recover damages when property is harmed due to a landlord's negligence.
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