The owner and property manager of an apartment in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles have agreed to resolve a lawsuit involving claims of discrimination filed by the Housing Rights Center (HRC) and Mental Health Advocacy Services (MHAS) on behalf of a tenant with mental health disabilities who needs an assistance animal. The defendants agreed…
Continued . . . The Black Hills were at that time Sioux lands, recognized as such by the U.S. Government when it signed the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie, which recognized the Black Hills to be part of the Great Sioux Reservation, set aside for the exclusive use of the Sioux people. But by 1868…
Disclaimer: This Q&A discusses San Diego Ordinance Number O-21447 (O-2022-98 Rev.), which we refer to as to the no-fault eviction moratorium or moratorium. This moratorium is only relevant to Landlord’s with rental properties in the City of San Diego. Additionally, this moratorium is in effect from May 22, 2022, through September 30, 2022 or 60 days after…
Below are questions asked by rental property owners regarding California rent control laws followed by answers provided by Attorney Richard Beckman. Question 1: Are we allowed to seek unpaid rent now by going to small claims court? Answer 1: Depending on when the rent accrued, and what jurisdiction (city etc) your tenancy is located…
California Storm Threatens $725 Billion Worth of Damage On July 4, 2019, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit just north of Los Angeles, California. The next day, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit the area. Now, scientists are predicting a massive California storm that could cause a building toppling earthquake and the collapse of the Whittier Narrows…
Changing the Terms of a Tenancy Under California Law, if you are increasing rent 10% or less, a 30-Day Change of Terms of Tenancy is required to be served on your tenant. If you are increasing the rent 10% or more, a 90-day notice is required. In California, there exists an “Anti-Gouging” statute, Penal Code…
A recent column was headlined “Inflation, The Cruelest Tax.” Well, if inflation is the cruelest tax, then inflation’s impact on gasoline, combined with the nation’s highest tax, can only be characterized as “cruel and unusual punishment.” In addition to inflation and taxes, other government policies related to petroleum are counterproductive. These include regulatory burdens and…
Attorney Ethan Blevins City Planners tremble as they whisper a new term that embodies their fears – “Seattle-ization.” Washington’s Emerald City, one the byword for urban vitality, is now outpacing San Francisco as a cautionary tale in how over-regulation strangles the housing market. That does not mean, unfortunately, that observers understand the root cause of…
Tenants across San Francisco are poised to gain new collective bargaining powers to affect conditions in their buildings, thanks to a move by lawmakers in March. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved protections for tenants to form associations, akin to labor unions, that can negotiate with landlords over a wide range of concerns, including issues like…
Alameda County, Los Angeles County, and multiple cities throughout the state continue to extend baseless eviction bans. April 1st is actually Day 742 of the housing provider hostage crisis. Our local politicians’ actions show that they do not care about the pain and suffering that they are causing housing providers. Their main priority is the…