Ensure You Understand Your Commercial Lease
Commercial leases can be complicated and filled with terms both the landlord and tenant do not fully understand. A recent unpublished opinion in the California Court of Appeal exemplifies how a little confusion over the terms of a commercial lease can lead to over payments and litigation over the terms of the commercial lease. Fresh […]
Glendale’s Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance
Although the City of Glendale does not have rent control that limits the amount a landlord can charge tenants, Glendale has enacted an ordinance that regulates evictions in the City. The City of Glendale also provides a handy guide to its just cause eviction ordinance here. The eviction control ordinance applies to all rental units except […]
When should a landlord hire an attorney?
I often get asked from landlords and property managers when should I hire an attorney or can I do this myself. Although most landlord-tenant issues can resolve themselves without consulting an attorney, there are some instances when an attorney would be a valuable asset to have and may even be more cost effective to hire […]
Making a Reasonable Accommodation to a Landlord’s No Pets Policy
Although a landlord can prohibit tenants having pets completely from a property, the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) requires a landlord to make a reasonable accommodation to a “No Pets Policy.” There are two types of pets that commonly fall within a reasonable accommodation under the ADA and that landlords encounter, a “service animal” and […]
What to Include in Your Pet Policy for Your Apartment Building
This week had an interesting news story about a North Hollywood landlord who requires all of her residents to have a pet if they want to live in her apartment building. Most landlords would scoff at the idea of requiring a pet as many landlords prohibits pets outright. However, if a landlord is planning to […]
How to Serve a Three Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit to Start an Eviction
Service of the Three Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit can commence your eviction (also known as an unlawful detainer). If the Three Day Notice is not filled out properly or is not served correctly, a landlord or property management can lose the entire eviction and would need to start all over again. Thus, […]
Los Angeles Tenants Could Pay Part of Earthquake Retrofit
Recently, a Los Angeles City Councilman has raised the possibility of having tenants subject to the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance pay for earthquake retrofitting of apartment buildings. Currently, under the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance a landlord can raise pass 50% of the costs of capital improvements to tenants. However, the Los Angeles City […]
City of Los Angeles Rent Escrow Account Program Upheld As Constitutional
Recently, the Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the City of Los Angeles’ Rent Escrow Account Program (“REAP”) as constitutional in Sylvia Landfield Trust v. City of Los Angeles. REAP is an administrative program in which the Los Angeles Housing and Community Development Department is able to collect rents from a property that finds to be […]
What is a Three Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit?
If you have a tenant that is behind on the rent, the first step in beginning an eviction is to serve a Three Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit. However, the requirements for a Three Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit can be complicated, and if you do not follow them exactly your […]
Increasing the Rent for an Additional Resident Under the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance
Landlords of units subject to the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance (the formal name for Los Angeles’ rent control) in the City of Los Angeles are able to raise the rent for additional tenants. Section 151.06(G) allows a landlord to raise the rent 10% for each additional tenant. However, there are some important exceptions and […]