Inherited property with tenants making renovations

[Jamila Garcia]

Need Advice.

My best friend’s dad past away last month. He inherited a home with tenants in Santa Clara, California. They have a 3 year lease agreement signed and in the agreement his dad and the tenant negotiated that the tenant can make renovations to the property. Since covid the tenant has been paying partial rent until today and paying below market rent for a sfh 3/2.

The tenant kept making excuses about paying rent and told my friend that his dad gave him chances and they had an agreement. My friends dad wasn’t able to visit the property due to his health he was 89 years old and had cancer.

my friend finally visited the property the other day and as you can see in the pictures the tenant hasn’t finished making renovations because he’s been busy at work. The tenant basically added walls to make more rooms. The tenant also said he was in the process renovating the kitchen. The lease ends next year 2023. What should my friend do? He’s pretty overwhelmed about the situation.

Can he even evict him?

Should he get a lawyer involved? Should he even let the tenant finish the renovations?

The tenant owes a lot in back rent too.

Given California landlord tenants laws. What should be the first step?