Legal Question in Business Law in California

Re: Landlord question

More than likely, he's breaching the lease agreement by which he agreed to maintain the structure. Doesn't your wife have a long-term lease? That's always a good idea to have one with such businesses.

Re: Landlord question

Probably, but not necessarily. Unlike a residential lease where there is an implied warranty of habitability, commercial leases can and do vary substantially in their maintenance-responsibility terms. There are leases, called triple-net or NNN leases, where the tenant does or is responsible for everything, including the property taxes as well as all maintenance. Dig out your copy of the lease, find the maintenance section, and read it carefully.

I'm not sure what you mean by "reporting" the landlord; the building inspection department, for example, is not in a position to determine which party, owner or tenant, is responsible for fixing roof leaks nor do I think it is necessarily a violation of any code or ordinance where it could issue an order, even if it knew to whom to address the order.

Re: Landlord question

depends upon the lease terms.