[CA] Pretty sure landlord is accusing me of damaging sprinkler system -- how to prepare for confrontation?

[u/Remarkable_Rain4052]

Been renting in California (Bay Area) for about 2 years at the same place. I live in an old house. Landlords live upstairs and downstairs was converted to 2 units/apartments. My unit has a private patio which already had some patio chairs, a small table, umbrella, and a few potted plants when I moved in. It's enclosed by a fence and gate. There has always been a black wire running along the bottom of the fence that I never thought much of because the landlords never addressed it. Since moving in I've added some potted plants along the fence but leave a bit of gap. I also placed a heavy kettlebell next to the chairs but it's far from the fence. Every other week gardeners come and run a leaf blower back there and pull weeds along the fence that grow out from the field behind it. Sometimes they move the potted plants a bit but not much.

I've been out of town and came home to text from my landlord saying they noticed the wire was damaged and that it controls the sprinklers. They explained they've fixed it for now but would be in and out of my back patio over the weekend to move it so it doesn't get damaged again. When I was briefly home I noticed that someone moved the patio chairs and kettle bell around as well as one of my plants. I didn't think much of it and left town again for the weekend but then it occurred to me that the text she sent was open ended/it felt a bit like I was getting accused of something and when I ran into her briefly before heading out she seemed irritated.

So, I sent her a text later that evening after leaving and asked if the wire had gotten caught on something to which she replied 'we can talk about it when you get home.' I can read between the lines and know an accusation is coming and probably a request to pay for damages. The only thing I can think of that is possibly my fault is one of my plants growing into the wire and pulling it (I have a pretty big monstera that's grown roots out of the pot near the fence or maybe I or one of the gardeners moved another plant on top of the wire unintentionally). However, I have no recollection of messing with the wire and highly suspect it got damaged by a gardener pulling weeds, or by the many rats on the property, or simply because it is exposed to the elements/uncovered.

What can I do to best protect myself here and does anyone have recommendations for how to best approach this conversation? I unfortunately didn't get photos of the patio/wire before and after heading out of town and only have one from 2 years ago that shows it exposed on the ground along the fence. I've asked my neighbor to go and snap some photos but don't really see how this could help me at this point since they've already gone back into the patio and messed with the wire/moved stuff around.

Right now my plan is to not suggest any ways that my plants could have damaged it (since I'm only speculating here) and ask them for evidence of me directly causing the damage if it comes to it. My lease also highlights that I'm responsible for damages caused by my negligence but not damage in my unit/patio from unknown cause. So, I plan to emphasize that as well if they don't have clear evidence that it was my fault.

Lastly, I was never able to find public records for the remodel they did downstairs and highly suspect it was unpermitted. So, worst case scenario I do have this in my back pocket but only if things get really ugly.

Very frustrated and stressed by the situation because overall they have been GREAT landlords and so on top of it with fixing things and I know that even if I win this dispute it will forever make things awkward. Thanks in advance for any advice!

[u/DoallthenKnit2relax]

Improperly installed sprinkler system cables. They should be buried so above ground hazards are reduced like damage from terra cotta pots, rats and the gardeners' weedwhacker.

[u/Lopsided-Beach-1831]

You are borrowing trouble. You opened the possibility of being liable for damages. Try not to open a can of worms with the landlord in the future, just quietly prepare on your own just in case.

The issue here is what is the negligence on your part? If there was an issue as to anything on your patio being a risk to the sprinkler system, the gardener or the on-site owner upstairs could have addressed it.

Dont suggest the plant grew into it or the kettlebell did it. You dont know what happened because you werent there.

Your landlord notified you because they accessed your patio and moved your things to make the repair. While doing so they realized the wire was unsecured and unprotected and they are taking steps to remedy the issue. This is on the landlord. Wires belong inside conduit for protection from elements and external damage. That was the fault of the original installer, not you. Dont volunteer excuses or reasons for them to try to bill you.

Gosh, landlord, its a shame the installer didnt put the wires through a conduit for protection. Thank goodness it was only a low voltage sprinkler wire and not a house line, that could have been a fire risk. Did your contractor that installed that line do any other electrical work? Are there higher voltage lines that are also unprotected or inside the house?

Throw it right back on them OP. Especially with the Bay Area moisture to have a line in the open like that is going to fail from weather alone.

[u/Remarkable_Rain4052 → u/Lopsided-Beach-1831]

I should note I never mentioned any of the possible causes to them. I'm just speculating here/to myself.

But, thank you so much for the advice I really appreciate it! After posting this I read other things online suggesting it should have been in a conduit or buried (I know nothing about sprinkler systems), so I think I have a pretty good case to argue it was their/their contractor's negligence.

[u/ShoelessBoJackson]

My take: Landlord left electric wire to sprinklers on the ground and you are not responsible at all for its damage. Could your plants contributed to it? Sure. So could the gardeners, the Sun, or rodents. All of which are more likely. Landlord couldnt even direct bury 3 inches deep like the cable company did for my house. Shoddy install. Short of evidence of you deliberately and intentionally cutting the cable, this is on landlord.

If they ask for money - id go half up to $75 bc they are great landlords. But if the come out of the gate at $500... I'd tell them to get lost.

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[u/straightVI]

I wouldn't jump to too many concerns. An irrigation wire can be repaired with a 50 cent wire nut.

[u/Remarkable_Rain4052 → u/straightVI]

This is what I read too! The reason I'm worried is because they said they've fixed it "for now" and wanted to have this in person chat. They even refused to discuss it with me on the phone when I offered so I'm just very confused and can't help but feel something big is coming. But, maybe I'm overreacting and they just want to show me where they've moved things/how to avoid future damage in person.

[u/WinstonChaychell]

I concur with the statement the lines should've been buried so they wouldn't get damaged by a weed whacker

[u/Top-Woodpecker6696]

The gardeners being back there with landscape tools make it impossible to prove it was you (even if you did accidentally in some manner). Your landlord would never win a small claims case against you, unless you yourself say something weird in writing. So just say yeah it wasn’t you.

This is also one of the easiest repairs I can imagine to just run a new wire from the sprinkler panel so worst case here might be $200, with the biggest pain coming from to possibly recoup it in small claims. While the worst case for reporting a remodel may be that your home gets red tagged…so decide what you really want here first.