Q: I own a house in Fremont and rent it out. Normally, the tenant will clean the carpet when they move out as that is how they received it when they moved in. But for the first time, I have a tenant who is refusing to clean the carpet and said that California law says they do not have to clean it. They also broke the lease by having a cat when the lease specifically states “no pets.”

Landlords attorney Ted Smith replies: California law states that the rental property should be left in good condition and repair, less ordinary wear and tear, when the tenant vacates.

Real estate brokers and agents are caught in a tug of war, each manning the rope of their own issues. They’ve become blind to all that really matters, blind to the fans who sat on the sidelines — the consumers. The tighter each side pulls, the more rigid the rope. No slack. No give. No resolve. Every once in a while, one side gains a slight advantage. So what, you’re both not in the game anymore. You’re losing viewers. The consumer may be focused on a different game. 

Someday the rope will tear. Both sides will fall back and tumble. From the dust, more new business models will emerge.