Biohazard cleanup for landlords, property managers and funeral homes

Riverside Bio Clean gives landlords, property management companies, HOAs, motel operators and funeral directors a single line for biohazard cleanup across Riverside County and San Bernardino County. The call connects you with a registered trauma scene cleanup company for an unattended death in a unit, a suicide, an assault in a common area, a hoarded apartment, or drug residue after a tenant leaves.

Jobs property managers call about

A death in a unit

Unattended death cleanup, odor removal and a check of neighboring units, coordinated with the coroner release and the family.

Incidents in common areas

Blood in lobbies, stairwells, laundry rooms, pools and parking areas, scheduled around residents.

Hoarded units at turnover

Clearing, sanitizing and odor treatment after a tenant leaves, or when a lease ends in an eviction.

Drug residue between tenants

Wipe-sample testing and decontamination before a unit is re-rented, with lab reports for your file.

Needles and sharps

Safe collection and disposal of discarded needles in units, landscaping and common areas.

Funeral home referrals

A number to give families who ask what to do about the room where a death happened.

Have this ready when you call

A few details let the cleanup company quote quickly and send the right crew.

When a tenant dies: California rules that come up

This is a summary for orientation, not legal advice. Talk to your attorney before you remove belongings or re-rent.

The tenancy does not always end with the death

California Civil Code section 1934 says a hiring that either party can end at will is terminated by notice of the other's death; in other cases it is not terminated by the death. Whether a particular lease ends, and when, depends on its terms, so get advice before treating the unit as vacant.

The tenant's belongings

Civil Code sections 1980 to 1991 set out how a landlord handles personal property left behind: written notice with a claim date at least 15 days after personal delivery or 18 days after mailing, and sale at public auction unless the landlord reasonably believes the property is worth less than $700. Items that are contaminated with body fluids are a separate question, so document their condition with photos before the cleanup company removes them.

Dealing with the estate

Families of tenants often settle modest estates with a small estate affidavit under Probate Code section 13100, which cannot be used until 40 days after the death. For deaths on or after April 1, 2025, the Judicial Council form sets the limit at $208,850. Knowing this helps you explain to relatives why they may not be able to sign for the unit straight away.

Disclosing the death to the next tenant or buyer

Under Civil Code section 1710.2, there is no duty to disclose a death on the property, or how it happened, when it occurred more than three years before the new tenant or buyer's offer. Within three years that protection does not apply, so ask your attorney what to disclose. At any time, the section does not protect a misrepresentation made in answer to a direct question about deaths on the property.

Who pays for the unit

The owner usually pays the cleanup company and then looks to insurance, the tenant's estate, or both. Landlord policies differ on biohazard cleanup, so call your carrier early. Crime-related cleanup may qualify for California victim compensation if someone who paid for it applies. See who pays for crime scene cleanup in California for the details, and the cost guide for published ranges.

Funeral homes and mortuaries

Families often ask their funeral director what to do about the room where a death happened. Funeral homes in the area can pass this number on, or call it on a family's behalf with their permission. The family then deals with the cleanup company directly. Our first 24 hours guide is written for families and can be shared with them too.