IN THIS EDITION:

Aging buildings in San Francisco need upkeep, and whether tenants need to be transitioned out to make those repairs is a judgment call that comes with consequences, as we discuss in our latest article. 

Landlords in unincorporated parts of Alameda County remain in a suspended state of ambiguity with ongoing discussions on instituting increased tenant protections. We've been dialed in.

For the second year, the Berkeley Rent Board is billing unsuspecting property owners for rent registry fees. Owners need to understand that if there is a local rent registry, they may have to inform the city what is transpiring on their property even if no units are being rented out. 

The calculus in San Francisco passthroughs has changed and finally, after seeing a rash of package thefts, we take on the subject of porch pirates. 

Thank you for your continued engagement and have a blessed Father's Day.

As a reminder, I'm always accessible via email at daniel@bornstein.law.

Onward, 

Let's talk about temporarily displacing San Franciscans to effectuate repairs

Landlords are sometimes caught between a rock and a hard place when conducting repairs and capital improvements. On the one hand, they may not want to shell out hundreds of dollars a day in relocation payments.

On the other hand, housing providers can invite liability by turning a rental unit into a construction zone and creating an inhabitable dwelling.

A few remarks on unincorporated areas of Alameda County 

There’s been much chatter about increased tenant protections in Alameda County, but little progress has been made in striking a compromise between landlord and tenant groups.

Porch pirates: A vexing problem for the rental housing community

With the rise in online shopping, our office has seen a corresponding increase in the theft of packages.

It has almost reached the point where we have carved out a new area of practice in handling these takings of easily grabbed boxes and other deliveries.

If we discover that a tenant is stealing packages, housing providers should commence an eviction action with no debate or discussion.

It gets murkier when we discuss the responsibilities of landlords and their agents to secure the premises, prevent the theft of packages, and avoid liability.

Let's talk about Berkeley

In uplifting news, the Berkeley Rental Housing Coalition has confirmed that the pro-housing measure of the Rent Relief & Homeowners Protection Act has garnered enough valid signatures to be put in front of voters in November. 

On a less positive note, we have been made aware that a bloated and inefficient Rent Board is once again sending notices to owners demanding rent registry fees even though the properties are exempt from these fees.

More happenings from Bornstein Bytes

What constitutes a property’s “permanent” removal from the rental market? That was the fundamental question in a large eviction case with a judge ruling that the landlord’s actions were inconsistent with the Ellis Act. The domino effect of California’s insurance crisis. A looming date for Oakland property owners subject to the RAP fee to register their properties, and more topics germane to housing providers.

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