Legal Tip: Rental Property Destroyed by Wildfire

What is a residential landlord’s obligation to tenants when a rental property is destroyed by wildfire or other act of G-d?

In California, a rental agreement is automatically terminated if the entire property is destroyed by a natural disaster, fire, or other act of G-d. The tenant is no longer obligated to pay rent and must find a new place to live.  The landlord must refund any unused, prorated rent and any unused portion of the security deposit, and an accounting must be provided by the landlord to the tenant within 21 days of the destruction.  There is no obligation on the part of a landlord to provide relocation benefits.