Taking the time to verify information on the front end can mean the difference between a stable tenancy and a costly mistake that takes months to unwind. With that in mind, let’s walk through some key red flags and practical steps landlords and agents can use to avoid relying on false or misleading information during…
Mark your calendar for one of the biggest events of the year for rental property owners and managers: AOA’s FREE “Million Dollar” Trade Show and Landlording Conference returns to the Long Beach Convention Center on Wednesday, August 19th! This one-day event is packed with opportunities: expert-led seminars, valuable giveaways, and more than 150 vendors showcasing…
We have said many times and in many venues that the greatest predictor of dysfunction is prior dysfunction. Conversely, the greatest predictor of a tenant becoming a positive member of a healthy, safe, and harmonious rental community is a prior history of being a stellar tenant. The key difference lies in responsibility, respect for…
Most eviction filings never show up in public court searches anymore, meaning housing providers are not privy to a prospective tenant’s eviction history. Housing providers blinded to a tenant’s eviction history can still use some old-fashioned personal sleuthing to identify rental risks. We have said many times and in many venues that the greatest predictor…
Below are questions asked by rental property owners regarding California and Orange County rent control laws, followed by answers provided by eviction attorney Dennis Block. Question One: The Hidden Eviction History I recently sustained a financial loss exceeding $25,000 after a tenant defaulted on rent shortly after moving in. Although I conducted a standard…
As California rolls into a host of new laws that went into effect January 1, 2026, lease agreements that worked in the past won’t cut it anymore. Most of the new requirements apply when a lease is newly entered, renewed, or amended. Let’s review some new laws that necessitate a makeover of lease agreements to…
California’s rental housing industry is watching closely as the Court of Appeals considers a case that could transform the legal landscape for housing providers statewide. The lawsuit, Yeh v. Barrington Pacific, LLC, centers on a question that may carry major implications: Can a tenant sue for $10,000 under the Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act (ICRAA),…
After a San Francisco attorney says a landlord has the right to only allow “MAGA voters and Israel supporters” to attend an open house, it raises the question: Should landlords do something just because they can? Several laws protect tenants against discrimination based on gender, familial status, race, sexual orientation, source of income, and other…
As a California housing provider, staying compliant with state laws—especially Assembly Bill (AB) 2493)—is more important than ever. AB 2493, which took effect in 2025, requires landlords to give all rental applicants a written list of qualification criteria before collecting a screening fee. This legal requirement highlights the importance of having clear, consistent, and legally…
Note to readers: The below tips are shared by landlords nationwide –please be sure to check the rental laws in your jurisdiction as they may differ from suggestions in this article. When screening applicants, one important factor to consider is STABILITY. How stable are the applicants? As one landlord put it: “Stable people don’t bounce”. One…