Cal. Civil Code § 840 : Rights And Obligations Of Owners — California Civil Code — Property — Obligations Of Owners — Owner of life estate Date: 14 Sep 2016 TEXT PDF Current through the 2016 Legislative Session The owner of a life estate must keep the buildings and fences in repair from ordinary waste, and must pay the taxes and other annual charges, and a just proportion of extraordinary assessments benefiting the whole inheritance. Ca. Civ. Code § 840