I have been running into situations where residential landlords and tenants have been sending emails to one another to give notice to terminate their month-to-month tenancies. For some landlord-tenant relationships, the tenancy ends without any issues. However, in many situations, there are usually problems. There might be a tenant who has allowed other persons to [...]
As many of you know, the housing market in the Bay Area has been, in one word, “crazy” with a shortage of housing units available for sale and rent. I was recently out and about looking at properties for sale when I spotted a big sign in the front yard of one of the listings. [...]
I get this all the time with clients who are landlords. If only I would have taken the time to order a credit report. If only I would have checked references. If only I would have required a full security deposit and not taken it in payments. If only … I would not be experiencing [...]
So you’re thinking about renting out the spare bedroom in your house. After all, you have an extra room and could use the rental income the room can generate, and you could have a roommate to keep you company. While it could be the greatest thing you do and you could perhaps find a new [...]
Myth #1. Unlawful detainers are informal hearings just like small claims cases I see on TV or at my local courthouse. This is far from the truth. Small claims court does have procedures designed to let everyday people resolve disputes quickly without the hassle of costly litigation. But unlawful detainer cases in California are like [...]
Landlords beware! You still have the obligation to provide your tenants with an accounting of their security deposit, even if you file an unlawful detainer action and the court awards you a money judgment for past due rent. Failure to send an accounting of the use of a security deposit within 21 days as prescribed [...]
In our last post, we began talking about what a security deposit is, what it can be used for, and maximum amounts that can be taken from tenants as security. You may be wondering what happens to the security deposit during a tenancy and after a tenant moves out of a rental unit. Here is [...]
Well, it’s that time of the year again: school is back in session. Normally around this time of year, students and families are entering into new leases and moving into new housing. Anyone that has rented a home has usually encountered paying a security deposit. Here is a quick refresher on what a security deposit [...]
