You don’t often see landlords sentenced to that kind of jail time for crimes related to their business, but this story is proof it can happen. Fifty-nine-year-old David Merryman may not walk away from the federal prison system until he’s 76, assuming he lives that long. Landlord Accused of a…
Property titles differ. With each comes rights and responsibilities. Which one is right for you and your family depends on your goals and the challenges you face. Explore your options if you’re buying property or think a change might benefit your current property. What is Real Estate? It’s land and…
MV Realty, a Florida-based real estate brokerage, no longer does business in California and other states after allegations of fraud and illegal tactics. The company filed for bankruptcy last year and faces legal actions nationwide. The company promised cash in exchange for an agreement that homeowners would use their services…
Tenants facing eviction now have ten days to respond to a complaint, not five. The change, signed into law in September, was not opposed by the state’s central landlord lobby, the California Apartment Association. However, landlords could go another five days with unpaid rent or another situation that led to…
For decades, residential tenants in California have had many legal protections. Thanks to a bill signed into law in September, some commercial tenants will join them. The new law isn’t a “game changer” in the commercial tenant-landlord relationship, but it adds some protections for tenants and hassle and work for…
If landlords think ahead and prepare, they can avoid expensive legal and practical problems or reduce their impact. We represent property owners, and over the years, we have seen recurring themes and issues that can set landlords back. Learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others to save yourself…
What you must repair and how quickly depends on the situation. The key issues are whether the broken item makes the unit uninhabitable and the effort you’re using to try to get it fixed. If the unit is furnished, you may want to fix something that may endanger the health…
Your ability to enter an occupied unit is restricted. Tenants not only pay for a right to occupy a space but, within limits, to enjoy it. That includes the ability to be left alone. Their rights to the unit conflict with your rights to protect and maintain it, and state…
When you can remove a vehicle from your property is discussed in the state’s vehicle code. As a whole, the legislature tried to balance the interests of vehicle and property owners. You may face financial consequences if you’re too zealous with towing vehicles. Basic Rules for Towing a Vehicle from…
Our previous blog discussed how tenants with disabilities can ask for reasonable accommodations and modifications to enjoy housing rights equal to those without disabilities. State and federal laws not only create these rights but also tell you how to handle them. How Must a Request be Made? It need not…
