Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Re: How do I recover costs of damage by tenants to our home?

Since your request was how to collect damages, it appears that the tenants have vacated the premesis.

You have 14 days after they vacate to give them written notice of the disposition of the deposit. There are severe penalities for failure to give this notice. Immediately obtain good faith estimates of the cost of reparing the damages and notify the tenants, in writting of each repair and its cost. If the deposit does not cover all of the costs then send the tenants a demand for the amount that is not covered by the security deposit. You can sue the tenant in samll claims court if the damages do not exceed the jurisdictional limit. The small claims court form sets forth the jurisdicitonal limits. Which vary from $2,000 upto $5,000.

Re: How do I recover costs

you keep their deposit if there is one then you sue them for the rest.