I have a tendency to roll my eyes when President Trump brags about the strongest economic recovery in U.S. history before COVID-19 hit. While it was not the strongest economy in terms of Gross Domestic Product growth, it was indeed the best ever based on several other economic metrics, as I will point out in…
DetailsQuestion: I am a landlord and do not want to look for new tenants every year. Should I enter into a long-term lease with my tenants? Answer: A lease can be beneficial or disastrous for a landlord. It is beneficial to keep a tenant for multiple years, so you do not lose time and rent…
DetailsQuestion 1: Can you explain the AB 3088 rules on when tenants can be forced to pay rent? Answer 1: AB 3088, the Tenant, Homeowner, and Small Landlord Relief and Stabilization Act of 2020, by its express language appears to offer a relatively clear and complete set of rules regarding tenant rent payments and the…
DetailsQuestion One: I have a tenant who is on a one-year lease. He is now stating that he will be moving out due to COVID-19. He is demanding all of his security deposit back. Can a tenant break his lease if he is impacted by the pandemic? Answer One: A lease cannot be terminated due to…
DetailsBy Dale Alberstone Hello everybody. In recent months, three topics (other than statewide COVID-19 laws) are in the forefront of our legal news. So instead of addressing one subject in depth as most of my articles in this column do, I will briefly discuss recent developments in three specific areas of law, namely: Arbitrations,…
DetailsThe below was written by Nigel Duara, CalMatters on September 25, 2020. CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics. This article is part of The California Divide, a collaboration among newsrooms examining income inequity and economic survival in California. For more information, visit www.CalMatters.org. Once a fringe tactic, rent strikes…
DetailsEvictions Under the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act Extends notice period from 3 to 15 days (not including weekends or holidays) to provide tenant additional time to either pay or provide declaration of hardship in response to landlord’s notice to pay rent or quit. Tenant cannot be evicted for nonpayment due to a COVID-19 related hardship…
DetailsThis wouldn’t be a California election without at least a few wildly contentious ballot measures about housing and property taxes. After a bit of last-minute legislative maneuvering, the 12 propositions that California voters will be asked to weigh in on has been finalized. Here are the three real estate-related ones: Prop 15: Split Roll Who…
DetailsQ: I am advertising my single-family residence for rent. I received an inquiry from an interested woman asking if I accept section 8 tenants. Can I refuse to rent to tenants that have section 8 vouchers? A: No, effective January 1, 2020, landlords with properties in the state of California cannot refuse to rent to…
DetailsWe are all wondering if brokers and investors can find deals during this pandemic. The answer is a resounding yes!!! Investors, appraisers, and financial institutions are resetting their visions and policies to adjust to our new reality. Consensus is that this current environment is not going away anytime soon so we need to adjust. In…
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