Pros and Cons of a Month-to-Month Rental Contract Versus a Fixed Term Lease

As a landlord or property manager, you have the option of renting your property for a fixed term, usually 12 months, or on a month-to-month basis. This article discusses the pros and cons of a month-to-month rental contract, as compared to the longer fixed term lease.  Pros and Cons of Month-to-Month Leases A month-to-month rental…

Landlord Move-In and Move-Out Inspections

Rental walk-through inspections are typically done by the landlord at the beginning and end of the lease term.  Inspections are essential for both landlords and tenants because they provide a framework for identifying and assigning responsibility for damages to the rental unit during the tenancy.  Here’s a brief overview of what should be covered at…

Overview of Section 8 Subsidized Housing Program

Government-subsidized Section 8 housing is regulated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This article provides an overview of how to become a Section 8 landlord and the pros/cons of participating in the Program.     Section 8 Approval Process The first step towards securing Section 8 tenants is contacting the local housing authority…

How to Handle a Tenant Who Causes Property Damage to the Rental Unit

What options are available to a landlord when a tenant causes damage to the rental property?  For damages beyond normal wear and tear, the landlord is entitled to charge the tenant for loss.  The tenant may also be subject to eviction for causing the property damage.  Here’s are some suggestions on how to approach and…

When Can Landlords Enter Their Rental Property?

Under California law, when an owner rents real property to the resident, the resident is entitled to exclusive possession of the premises, even to the exclusion of the owner or property manager of the premises. There are, however, exceptions to this general rule, as codified by Civil Code section 1954.  Here is a summary of…

Evictions After Foreclosure in California

Those who buy an occupied foreclosed property often find that the person(s) living there will not voluntarily vacate the property.  Before you take any action to evict, one threshold question needs to be answered:  Is the person on the property the former owner or the former owner’s tenant? The answer to this question is important…

Evicting a Section 8 Tenant

The Department of Housing & Urban Development’s Section 8 program helps low-income tenants afford housing by providing rent subsidies to the program participants. A Section 8 tenancy can go south for the same reasons as other tenancies, sometimes requiring the landlord to commence eviction proceedings against the tenant. This article summarizes the legal grounds for…

Synopsis of the City of Los Angeles Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance

The City of Los Angeles has enacted a Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance that applies to ALL rentals in the City of Los Angeles, including Single Family Residences and condos.  It can be found in Article 5.3 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code and is summarized below.  Prohibited Conduct The LA City Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance prohibits Los…