Question One: My property is located in Hollywood. A tenant has moved out and we are preparing the security deposit itemization form. Is it sufficient to send it by text or is it required that I mail the document to the tenant? Answer One: The law requires that a security deposit be prepared in writing.…
Q: I own an apartment building and I heard that some landlords use RUBS to bill their utilities to their tenants. What is RUBS and how does it work? A: RUBS stands for Ratio Utility Billing System which can be used to divide the utility expenses of a multifamily building that does not have separately…
Question One: I have a tenant who is creating a major nuisance on the property. My property is located in Bell, CA. I understand that Governor Newsom has placed a moratorium on evictions through July 28, 2020. Can you suggest an alternative solution? Many of our residents are working from home and cannot put up…
Question 1: What is the latest status of the landlord’s right to require the tenant to pay rent or move out during the COVID-19 crisis? What about other grounds to terminate a tenancy? Answer 1: As discussed in last month’s article in some detail, for all of California, evictions for non-payment of rent are extremely…
Q: I have a potential tenant that is an active service member. How much can I charge this tenant as a security deposit? A: When you rent a residential unit to a service member, you can only charge a security deposit equal to one month’s rent for an unfurnished property. If your property is furnished,…
Question One: I have a tenant who has failed to pay rent since December 1, 2019. I was trying to work with her, but she is now claiming that due to the Coronavirus, she cannot make any payments. I have now heard that the courts are not allowing the filing of any eviction actions. What…
Q: I heard on the news that there is an eviction moratorium in the state of California. What that does that mean?
Question 1: Can I apply the tenant’s security deposit to rent that is not being paid during the Covid 19 crisis? If so, can I then require the tenant to replenish the deposit? Answer 1: The short answers are, probably, and probably not. I have a feeling I will be prefacing nearly every answer for…
Question 1: Is there a form to use for properties that are not exempt from the new California rent control law that begins 1/1/20? Is there a form to use for properties that the rent will be rolled back on 1/1/20 to 5% plus CPI? And what website do you recommend when determining the CPI for…
Question One: I allow my tenant to pay rent by depositing the funds directly into my bank account. When I did not get the rent, I issued the tenant a 3 Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit. I did not receive the rent within the three days, so I initiated an unlawful detainer action.…