‘Tenants turned my home into a party megamansion’

There is no doubt renting out a home you own to a tenant comes with some risks, even with landlord insurance.

But a homeowner from the US state of California says she has been left with a damage bill of more than $AU150,000 after a tenant turned her rental property into a “party megamansion”.

Cheri Woods, who is herself a licensed real estate agent who rents out unique themed vacation homes in Los Angeles and Las Vegas according to her Instagram page, told Realtor.com she had been renting out the property in the suburb of Calabasas for more than a decade, without any problems. 

Woods purchased the home in 1992 and transformed it into a tropical resort guesthouse consisting of a main home and four smaller dwellings, which she used to rent out as holiday lettings. 

After deciding to sell the home, a local real estate agency suggested earlier this year she rent it out while looking for a buyer, and referred two men who work in the entertainment industry.

She met one of the men, who she said “seemed real nice,” before agreeing to rent them the property for USD$7000 (AUD $10,400 a month).

They even put down two months rent as a security deposit.

Despite learning a man with the same name as one of the tenants had been in jail, she agreed to a one-year lease. 

Soon after, the man she met seemingly disappeared, and the other tenant began bombarding her with complaints about the property before he stopped paying rent.

Things got worse when complaints from the neighbours started rolling in. 

Woods was told aggressive dogs prowled the property and barked for hours, even though the lease stipulated no pets.

She was also told the home was the scene of all-night wild parties attended by hundreds of young people.

“They turned my home into one of these megamansion party houses like you see on the news,” she said.

The “rages” were advertised on social media and included dangerous practices, such as dive-bombing into the shallow pool, which she said left her open to lawsuits if someone was hurt.

Finally, last month, Woods’ neighbours reported moving trucks outside the property.

When she arrived many of her items and furniture had been stolen and the house was left “disgustingly filthy.”

She estimates the four-month debacle cost her about $AU150,000 in lost income, cleaning, repairs and lawyer’s fees.

She is now planning to sell the property and is warning other landlords about her experiences.