I’ve been in property management for three decades now, and in that time I’ve seen the best and the worst of what this industry has to offer, ranging from impressive workmanship to a few tragic mistakes. I’ve seen someone ignore a termite report, thinking the problem couldn’t really be that bad, and then have to…
It’s easy to know who is winning when you keep score. To evaluate the quality of managed Wi-Fi solutions in Multi-Dwelling Units (MDU), property owners typically keep score by looking at the hard numbers that drive costs up. These include the following: Number of resident complaints about the Wi-Fi per month Hours of Wi-Fi downtime…
In a unanimous decision last week, the Supreme Court ruled home equity theft unconstitutional, securing an individual’s right to just compensation when their property is seized. For years, Pacific Legal Foundation has argued that home equity theft—when governments satisfy property tax debt by taking a person’s home, selling it, and keeping more than the amount owed—violates the…
Question One: I normally do not permit dogs in my building. This one applicant pleaded with me to allow him to have a small dog and I am considering his request. Is it permissible to charge a pet deposit? Answer One: A pet deposit is not recognized under California law. All deposits are deemed to…
The announced maximum allowable increases for 2023, applicable to properties covered by AB 1482 (The California Tenant Protection Act) will go into effect August 1, 2023, and will be in place until the end of July, 2024. The maximum allowable increase is calculated by adding five percent to the Consumer Price Index for the respective…
Below are questions asked by rental property owners regarding California rent control laws followed by answers provided by eviction attorney Dennis Block. Question One: I normally do not permit dogs in my building. This one applicant pleaded with me to allow him to have a small dog and I am considering his request. Is…
Most renters know securing housing isn’t as simple as finding the perfect place. California’s renters must save up thousands of dollars to provide security deposits that can legally be as much as two months’ rent, or three months’ for furnished units. Add in the requirement that renters put up the first month’s rent before they can…
Rent control policies have long been a topic of debate, with proponents arguing for tenant protection and affordable housing, while opponents claim rent control has the opposite effect. In California, where the housing crisis is particularly severe, statewide rent control limits rent increases to 5% + CPI, with a max of a 10% annual increase. …
Below are questions asked by rental property owners regarding California property management, followed by answers provided by the law firm of Simone and Blevins. Q: I have not heard from my residential tenant in over a month, have not received rent and I think he abandoned the property. I posted a proper 24-hour notice…
Mud brick (adobe) is an ancient building material. Under favorable conditions, the crumbled remains of adobe buildings 10,000 years old have been found and authoritatively dated. In addition to small adobe buildings, people were just beginning to do a little gardening, to construct burial mounds, and to make sun- dried pottery. It is interesting that…