Blackstone Sued Over Habitability of Rented Home
The L.A. Times had an article today regarding a lawsuit by a tenant of Invitation Homes, a Blackstone subsidiary. Blackstone purchased tens of thousands of homes across the United States for the purpose of renting them out and (potentially) later securitizing the rents into bonds (similar to how mortgages were packaged for investors to purchase). […]
Los Angeles Landlords Allowed to Pass on SCEP Costs to Tenants in June
Los Angeles landlords are allowed to pass on 1/2 of the registration fees under the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance in June 2014. In 2014, the total cost allowed to be passed on to tenants is $12.25. This one time fee can be paid anytime in June 2014; however, a landlord is required to serve […]
Renting Residential Units in a Commercial Space
A recent news article highlighted what could happen when a landlord rents a unit for residential use in a commercial structure. A landlord in South Los Angeles was required to pay $141,000 to nearly a dozen tenants who were living in an old medical center. The landlord was renting examination rooms as living units, some […]
Consequence of Not Serving Rental Registration Certificate to Tenants in Los Angeles
A recent case highlighted an often overlooked requirement under the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance (Los Angeles’ rent control). Under the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance, a landlord is required to serve every tenant a copy of the landlord’s rent registration statement or renewal statement from the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department. However, […]
Resident Managers and Rent Increases Under Los Angeles Rent Stabilization
A recent California decision highlighted the issues that emerge when a landlord releases a resident manager from employment but the resident manager continues to the live on the property. In particular, how the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance provides guidance on this situation is important for Los Angeles landlords subject to rent control to understand. […]
Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance and Ellis Act Evictions
The Los Angeles Times reported a growing trend as the real estate market heats up and construction increases, evictions under California’s Ellis Act. Evictions from rent-controlled units on the rise in L.A provides a glimpse into non-fault evictions where a tenant is simply evicted because the landlord desires to remove the rental unit from the rental market. […]
Fair Housing and Advertising for Landlords
Under the Fair Housing Act and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, advertisements to rent or sell housing must not discriminate or state a preference even if the housing is exempt from fair housing laws. Generally, advertisements must not state a words that refer or relate to a particular class to describe the housing unit, […]
April is Fair Housing Month
April is Fair Housing Month, so I will be writing a few articles on how Federal and California fair housing laws apply to landlords, real estate brokers, property managers and other real estate professionals who lease property. The Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits unlawful discrimination based upon a tenant or potential tenant’s race, color, national […]
Relocation Assistance in the City of Glendale
In a previous post, I discussed Glendale’s Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. In this post, I will be discussing a smaller piece of Glendale’s Just Cause Eviction Ordinance: relocation assistance. Under the Glendale Just Cause Eviction Ordinance, relocation is required under the following circumstances: When the unit is permanently removed from the rental housing market or […]
How Renting Rooms Can Affect Your Insurance Policy
A recent unpublished decision in the California Court of Appeal should be a wake up call to property owners who claim that they occupy their home when in fact they rent it out. As a result of lying on an insurance application, the home owner in Lopez v. Allstate Insurance Co. was not covered by his insurance […]