How Long Does an Eviction Hurt Your Credit? Understanding California’s Laws
How Long Does an Eviction Hurt Your Credit? Understanding California’s Laws The dangers of an eviction can go far beyond losing one’s home. Your credit score going down could make it harder to get a credit card, mortgage, or car loan. A landlord hearing about an eviction might decide not to rent to you, […]
Understanding Tenant Deductions: Differentiating Wear and Tear from Damages
Understanding Tenant Deductions: Differentiating Wear and Tear from Damages When determining how much a landlord may deduct from a security deposit, the law specifically leaves out any necessary repairs due to “normal wear and tear.” Nowhere in the law itself is that term ever defined. It is left to common sense and good faith […]
Unexpected Moves: Unraveling the Cost of Breaking Your Lease Early
Unexpected Moves: Unraveling the Cost of Breaking Your Lease Early Sometimes, because life is just unpredictable, you might find that you need to move prior to the end of your lease. This naturally begs the question: how much will this cost you? The answer will depend on the terms of your lease and […]
What Is A Tenant Estoppel Certificate, and Should I Fill It Out?
What Is A Tenant Estoppel Certificate, and Should I Fill It Out? If a landlord wishes to sell an occupied property, they may, and should, provide the tenant with what is known as an “estoppel certificate.” This document may be titled something else, like “tenant questionnaire,” or “estoppel agreement,” but the general contents and […]
When Home Becomes Hell: Living the Nightmare of Bedbug Infestations
When Home Becomes Hell: Living the Nightmare of Bedbug Infestations Even just the mention of bedbugs is often enough to trigger a shiver of dread and revulsion in most people. These small insects are a scourge that spread quickly among travelers and occupants of hotels, apartment buildings, public transit, and anywhere else they may […]
When Home is Threatened: A Humanistic Approach to Understanding Eviction Laws in California
When Home is Threatened: A Humanistic Approach to Understanding Eviction Laws in California When discussing tenant rights, something that often comes up is the threat of a wrongful, fraudulent, self-help, or constructive eviction. But what does all of that mean? Basically, eviction is the process a landlord uses to force a tenant out and […]
Understanding Pet Policies in Rental Units: A Comprehensive Guide for Tenants
Understanding Pet Policies in Rental Units: A Comprehensive Guide for Tenants These days, many of us can hardly bear the thought of being without our animal companions. Whether they have fur, scales, feathers, or . . . something else, pets provide companionship, emotional support, and any number of other benefits to tenants and homeowners alike. […]
Housing Insecurity Solutions: How Los Angeles Transforms Pandemic Challenges into Tenant Protections
Housing Insecurity Solutions: How Los Angeles Transforms Pandemic Challenges into Tenant Protections As the last of the eviction moratoriums ticks down to its final days, it can be difficult to remember just how profound the housing crisis created by COVID-19 really was. With the devastating impact of the pandemic came a diverse set of tenant […]
Tenant Law and Housing Equality: Life Isn’t Fair, But Housing Should Be
Tenant Law and Housing Equality: Life Isn’t Fair, But Housing Should Be It has been three generations since state and federal laws were passed prohibiting housing discrimination. Unfortunately, the practice remains all too common. The question is, what is it? And what can you do about it? Fair Housing Act The Fair Housing Act (42 […]
How California’s Tenant Protection Act Statewide Rent Control Law Could be Improved
The 2019 Tenant Protection Act (TPA) went into effect on January 1, 2020—just over three years ago. By bringing rent control and just cause for eviction requirements to millions of Californians, the TPA safeguarded California renters by limiting the power landlords had to upend tenants’ lives through massive rent hikes or termination notices on as […]