While it is human nature to presume that tenants inherently share the same perceptions and competencies as buildings owners or property managers, all too often there can be a substantial variance between what is presumed and how a tenant will actually act or react both under normal circumstances as well as unusual or emergency situations.
Hello everybody. We live in a litigious society. Californians are “suit happy” and Southern Californians are particularly “suit happy.” Certainly there is no shortage of litigation filed by tenants against their former or existing landlords. My column this month will discuss the 26 main “Affirmative Defenses” available to a landlord to defend against tenants’ causes…
DetailsMany apartment communities strive to create a welcoming office environment in order to put prospective residents at ease. From aromatic scents and freshly baked cookies to a warm fire, these comforts communicate a feeling of “home.” However, when managers have an office connected to their apartment or even inside their apartment home, sometimes the lines…
DetailsBack when my grandparents had their first coin-op laundry equipment in the late 1950’s- there were limited choices in equipment models which made things easy, but in today’s day and age, it’s a different ballgame. They had old 10¢ meters that would start the old Frigidaire washers with a mechanical timer, would often stick in…
DetailsInvesting in multifamily housing and apartments requires extra investigation, sometimes called due diligence by attorneys, for investors who want to be certain they do not make a mistake. This extra investigation and these questions are beyond what a real estate investor may do normally for a typical commercial real estate investment. As a real estate investor,…
DetailsDo you ever feel like you are moving so fast that you start to make “dumb” mistakes at work? Or what about your teams? Do you feel like sometimes you give them the SAME instructions and they continue to miss the SAME steps?
The purpose of unlawful detainer proceedings is timely restoration of possession. Time periods for pleading [in unlawful detainer actions] are shorter than ordinary civil actions; the matter is set for trial more quickly and they are entitled to priority on the trial calendar. Thus, under California Law, these are the top ten reasons to do…
DetailsLocal rent control or “rent stabilization” ordinances have been in effect for decades in some of the nation’s largest cities, including New York City, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Newark, Oakland, San Jose, and of course, San Francisco. Some versions of rent control are far more reasonable than others.
Many apartment buildings secure the property with a common key that will allow the tenants to enter the building and usually, the same key is utilized to access the parking area, pool, or gym. Many times this is done with just a standard, classic key and sometimes the keys are even stamped “Do Not Duplicate”…
DetailsOn November 30, 2015 the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued new guidance involving the use of criminal background screening in federally assisted properties. In honor of Fair Housing Month, HUD issued new guidance on April 4, 2016 for this topic for all communities. That guidance, which was effective immediately, requires…
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