The general “extension rule” of CCP 12a which does apply to 3 Day Notices, does NOT apply to exercise of lease options. In a commercial lease, the civil procedure rule extending period to perform any lawfully required act past holidays, including Saturday, to next...
Experienced Real Estate And Business Attorney
Landlord Tenant
Increasing Rent for Condos under “rent control” Using Costa Hawkins CC § 1954.50 et seq
While most rental properties in California are NOT under rent control, many cities have rent control ordinances that state two or more dwelling units, including condos, on a lot if built before a certain date are under rent control. For example, Los Angeles’s cut off...
Notice to Quit May be Served Before Title Is Recorded after Foreclosure Sale
A buyer purchasing after a foreclosure sale, can serve a notice to quit to a tenant/former owner before recording the deed, e.g. before title is “perfected”. Citing Code of Civil Procedure § 1161a and U.S. Financial, L.P. v. McLitus (2016) 6 Cal.App.5th Supp. 1, the...
Fighting Phony Service Animal Requests (Penal Code §365.7)
Most landlords will have a tenant requesting a “service” or “companion” animal and show a vague note from a doctor supporting this request. This is an area where the unwary landlord can be bitten pretty hard, but here is an idea which may work, even if it may be...
Illegal Evictions and Other Landlord No No’s (Criminal and Civil Liability) (CCP §789.3)
It’s been a while, but today I heard of a renegade landlord doing self help, so here is my warning to landlords who are fed up with their tenant. Stop, call a lawyer or the police before taking the laws into your own hands or risk liability and a large lawsuit. (See...
Marijuana Laws and Landlord-Tenant Rights
Medical and probably soon recreational marijuana is going to be a hot box for landlords and tenants. Medical marijuana is also NOT a basis nor does it create “civil rights” for residential tenants to smoke in their apartments!! Health and Safety Code §11362.5...
Tenant can terminate tenancy with 14 days notice if victim of domestic, sexual or elder abuse (Civil Code §1946.7
If a tenant or member of the household was a victim of an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, elder abuse or human trafficking, the tenant can terminate the tenancy with 14 days written notice to the landlord. The tenant is required to attach to the...
Must Post Warning Sign if Landlord is a DIY pest controller (Civil Code §1940.8.5)
If the landlord/manager goes to Home Depot to buy pesticide, then they must post a sign of pesticide use. The exception if is a licensed pest control operator is used then no sign is needed! This law requires a landlord or the landlord’s authorized agent to provide a...
Mold is now the Tenant’s (initial problem)! (Civil Code §1941.7, Health and Safety Code §§17920, 17920.3)
A landlord is not obligated to repair mold problems until: 1) until he or she has notice of it or 2) if the tenant fails to keep the property clean and sanitary and thereby substantially contributes to the existence of the mold. Also, for a building, or portion...
Clotheslines allowed in tenant’s private area (Civil Code §§1940.20 and 4750.10)
Condo owners have a similar law. This law requires a landlord to permit a tenant to utilize a clothesline or drying rack approved by the landlord in the tenant’s private area. The landlord must permit a tenant to utilize a clothesline or drying rack approved by the...