As tenant lawyers, we are always on the lookout for dangerous lease clauses. Renters should know what they are getting into before they sign. Landlords will often hide that a unit does not have rent control. Even in jurisdictions with rent control, like San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, San Jose, and Berkeley, not all units are […] Read More
When can a tenant repair and deduct? Under California law, a tenant is allowed to repair and deduct. Civil Code § 1942. However, this remedy should only be used where the tenant meets all the requirements of the repair and deduct statute. If a tenant repairs and deducts without following the strict guidelines of California’s […] Read More
You may be able to file a lawsuit against your landlord for illegally collecting late fees. If you are a California tenant fighting an exorbitant late fee Contact Us Are late-fee clauses illegal in California residential lease agreements? Many landlords place clauses in their lease agreements that require tenants to pay a set fee if […] Read More
The City of San Rafael’s Rental Housing Dispute Resolution ordinance and Cause Required for Eviction ordinance went into effect July 17, 2019. This San Rafael rent control ordinance covers (1) how high a landlord can raise your rent; and (2) what a landlord can eviction you for. The new ordinances are a tool for combating […] Read More
As long-time tenant rights lawyers, our firm has sued 1,000s of landlords, and in most of those cases, the landlords have had to pay significant sums out of their own pockets because they did not have the right landlord-tenant insurance. Not all landlord insurance policies are created equal. Landlords need to make sure they have […] Read More
Landlord retaliation is a very serious offense. Often tenants are in jeopardy of losing their apartments because of retaliation. Retaliation can put tenants in physical danger. And, retaliation can force tenants to live with unsafe conditions. If you are in an unsafe situation because of landlord retaliation, you may need to contact the police, get […] Read More