How To Deal With This Complicated Situation? - CA Tenant Prob

[Shawn Choi]

A tenant operating halfway housing is looking to terminate the lease and vacate the premise 9 months earlier than the expiration of the lease due to problems with their business.

However, the unit has extreme damages, and the tenant has stated that they will not pay anything other than the forfeiture of the security deposit, which does not cover the necessary repairs.

As a rookie 'mom and pop' landlord in California, who now has to forgo 9 months of income, what is the best way to retrieve any monetary consideration for repairs??

What would you do in this situation, and what kind of mindset and mentality is key in tackling these types of conflicts with tenants??

Thank you very much for taking the time in reading this!

Greatly appreciate any insight~~