Tenant died in apartment unit two years ago. Landlord discloses death to prospective tenant, mentioning AIDS-related cause. Which statement is correct?
Audio Lesson
Duration: 2:37
Question & Answer
Review the question and all answer choices
Death disclosure required only for sales, not rentals
A is incorrect because death disclosure requirements do apply to rentals in California, not just sales. The California Civil Code requires disclosure of deaths that occurred within the past three years for both sales and rentals.
Death disclosure proper; AIDS-cause disclosure improper
Death disclosure proper; cause-of-death disclosure never allowed
C is incorrect because while cause-of-death disclosure is improper, death disclosure itself is required. The law mandates disclosure of deaths but protects the privacy of the deceased by prohibiting disclosure of specific medical details.
Death disclosure required only if within past year
D is incorrect because California's disclosure requirement for deaths in rental properties extends beyond the past year. The law requires disclosure of deaths that occurred within the past three years, not just within the past year.
Deep Analysis
AI-powered in-depth explanation of this concept
This question tests your understanding of property disclosure obligations regarding deaths in rental properties. In real estate practice, disclosure requirements balance transparency with privacy rights. California law treats residential properties differently based on whether they're being sold or leased. For rentals, landlords must disclose known deaths on the property, but have limitations on how specific they must be about the circumstances. The core concept is distinguishing between what must be disclosed (a death occurred) versus what should not be disclosed (specific medical information like the cause of death being AIDS-related). This distinction protects both tenant privacy and the landlord's obligation to be transparent about material facts. The question is challenging because it tests nuanced knowledge of disclosure laws that vary by transaction type and the specific boundaries of what constitutes proper disclosure versus improper invasion of privacy.
Knowledge Background
Essential context and foundational knowledge
In California, property disclosure laws are codified in the Civil Code. For residential rentals, landlords must disclose deaths that occurred on the property within the past three years. This requirement stems from the principle that potential tenants may have personal, cultural, or religious objections to living in a place where someone has died. However, the law also protects privacy rights by prohibiting disclosure of specific medical information. The AIDS-related cause in this question falls under protected medical information that should not be disclosed. This balance ensures transparency while respecting privacy rights.
Think of death disclosure like a weather report - you must tell someone it's raining (death occurred), but you don't need to specify if it was acid rain or a drizzle (the cause of death).
When encountering disclosure questions, ask yourself: 'Am I reporting the weather or analyzing the rain?'
For disclosure questions, remember the 'what vs. how' principle: disclose that something happened (death), but not necessarily how it happened (medical cause). This applies to both sales and rentals in California.
Real World Application
How this concept applies in actual real estate practice
A property manager is showing a unit to prospective tenants. When asked about the previous tenant's departure, the manager mentions the tenant moved out for personal reasons. Later, the tenants discover online that someone had died in the unit two years prior. This situation illustrates the importance of proper disclosure - the manager should have disclosed the death but not the specific medical cause. Proper disclosure maintains transparency while avoiding potential fair housing violations and legal issues.
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