Mushrooms Growing On Ceiling :(

[Christine Swaidan]

Hi all. Last week after a heavy downpour in SoCal tenant notified me that there were dripping leaks in two bedrooms. Above these two bedrooms are a sloped roof and a roof top deck. There were two small areas of mildew on one bedroom ceiling that tenant said just appeared. That was one week ago. Yesterday tenant called me to say there are mushrooms growing out of the ceiling where the mildew is (I'm calling it mildew, he's calling it black mold). I told him that we would come today to remove the effected ceiling. In the mean time he has texted me that as he is removing the furniture so we can work in there today he has found another major issue. The window seal top to bottom is completely rotted out because of drywall mold and the window must be torn out.

This is a 32 year old beach house. Not a lot done to it over the years but we did tent it and repair dry rot damage six months ago. Tenants have been there for 8 years. Any time there is a maintenance issued brought to our attention it is handled promptly.

Everything that needs to be done for this will be done without question. As I was speaking to him today he started in about his daughter's new furniture that may be damaged and the inconvenience factor. I just want to be prepared. Am I liable for damage to furniture? Am I obligated to throw money their way for the inconvenience. I am expecting he will ask for something especially if we have to block off the bedroom.