Can a California landlord do these?

Question

The location is in Diamond Bar City.

Can a landlord build another bedroom at the first floor (it was living room area in original) inside the property and live inside?

If there are 4 bedrooms in the house and the landlord rent out all of them to tenants, is that ok? (landlord live at the first floor which he built by himself without license)

Are landlord responsible for buying insurance for tenants if the house is still under Mortgage?

Answer 1

She can do this.  She is now your roommate. She buys insurance in case the house is burnt down.  It doesn't cover your personal belongings.

Answer 2

If the landlord has a permit he can build another bedroom at the first floor (may even be able to do that without a permit if there isn't any structural change to the place like adding a closet).  

4 bedrooms and 4 tenants are ok.

Landlords are not responsible for buying insurance for tenants.  Ever.  The landlord is probably required to have homeowner's insurance for the structure and himself if he has a mortgage, but your stuff is your responsibility (they call it renter's insurance - buy it, it's cheap).  Technically, if a landlord owned the place free and clear they wouldn't be required to have insurance on it (they'd be a fool not to have it, but they could).  

good luck!

Answer 3

no permit = illegal

Answer 4

He should be ok.

He can living in the dining room if he wants to.   He can not rent it.

He needs homeowners insurance, which does not cover the tenants, they need to buy their own renters insurance.

Answer 5

Sounds like time to call the building department in your city.  

If he is building without permits they want to know about it.  

I think you should be sure to get some renter's insurance for yourself.  The landlord probably has to have insurance for his mortgage, but not for the tenants.