Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Clarification of Terms in Rental Agreement

My rental agreement states:

Automobile Repairs: Please do not repair cars on the premises (other than minor adjustments) unless you have written permission to do so. NO CHANGING OIL. No major repairs.

I own a purpose built 4 wheel drive vehicle which I use only for recreation. It is highly modified and built for the sport of rock crawling. I would like to understand to what degree the landlord is bound by the terms stated in the rental agreement. The term repair is defined as �To restore to sound condition after damage or injury; fix: repaired the broken watch�.

If I perform actions like modifications or improvements which are not the result of an intent to �restore to sound condition after damage� as repair is defined am I in breach of the rental agreement?

My jeep has four doors and a rear hatch. All of the doors and the rear hatch are removed when I take the jeep out on the trails. All of these items are very easy to remove; it totals 16 bolts and about half an hour of work. I feel this is a minor adjustment.

I would like a little help understanding to what degree the landlord is bound by the specific terms stated in the rental agreement.


Asked on 3/21/04, 1:50 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Martin Snitow

Re: Clarification of Terms in Rental Agreement

Why not ask the landlord in advance if this would be a problem? I don't think it would. People nowadays remove the third row of seats from minivans, so what you are doing doesn't seem that strange.

I suggest you show the landlord that you can store the doors and hatch neatly and without getting in the way of anything or anyone.

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Answered on 3/21/04, 2:02 pm


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