The elements of landlord liability
A landlord is typically liable for your damaged property when their negligence or breach of a legal duty caused the loss. In plain terms: the landlord did something wrong — or failed to do something they were required to do — and your belongings were damaged as a result.
Common examples include a landlord who ignored repeated reports of a leak until it ruined your furniture, failed to maintain plumbing that then flooded your unit, knew about a pest infestation and let it destroy your mattress, or neglected wiring that caused a fire. In each case, the landlord's failure to keep the property safe and habitable led directly to the damage.
To hold a landlord responsible, it generally helps to show the landlord knew or should have known about the problem, had a duty to address it, failed to act reasonably, and that this failure caused your loss.
This is why documenting both the problem and your reports to the landlord matters so much. If your property was damaged by a condition the landlord should have handled, a free, confidential review can help you understand whether you have a claim.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.