Rental property
For landlords and property managers
A death or a violent incident in a unit leaves you with a sealed door, a tenant's belongings and neighbors asking questions. These notes cover Los Angeles County and California.
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In the first days
Seals
Don't enter a sealed unit. A blue seal means call the medical examiner at (323) 343-0755. A white seal means the county's Public Administrator has the case: (213) 974-0460 (medical examiner, for property owners).
The tenant's belongings
Belongings are part of the tenant's estate. Before anything is thrown away, find out who the next of kin or the estate's representative is, and get their agreement in writing.
Neighboring units
Fluids and odor can reach units below or beside. Ask the cleanup company to check shared walls, ceilings below and HVAC returns.
Your staff
Maintenance staff should not clean blood. OSHA requires employers whose workers face exposure to have a written exposure control plan and protective equipment (OSHA bloodborne pathogens).
Telling the next tenant
California Civil Code 1710.2 says an owner need not disclose a death on the property that happened more than three years before a new tenant or buyer makes an offer. It does not protect an owner who lies when asked directly (Civil Code 1710.2). For a recent death, ask your own attorney what to disclose.
Insurance and the bill
Your landlord policy is usually the first place to ask about the structure. If a crime happened in the unit, the tenant's family or whoever pays for the cleanup may be able to claim from CalVCB, which only repays work by a state-registered company.
Read next
- Checking a cleanup companyThe state registration to ask about, and other questions for the first call.
- Who pays for the cleanupHomeowner and renter insurance, landlords, estates and California's victim compensation program.
- Unattended death cleanupWhen someone died alone and was found days or weeks later.
Ready when you are
There is no need to call before the home or car has been released. When it has, one call puts you in touch with an independent cleanup company that works in the Antelope Valley.
Phone answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Calls may be recorded. Referral disclosure and privacy policy.