The latest happenings and insights for astute housing providers and the real estate professionals who serve them.



Guide to rent registries throughout the Bay Area

For three decades, we have always asked new clients standard questions like what year the property was built, whether there are any code violations surrounding the property, whether there are protected tenants, etc. A relatively new inquiry is whether units are compliant with local rent registries. 

We understand that there are housing providers who are laggards or simply unaware of the requirements to register their rental units, so we take a trip around the Bay Area to summarize these obligations and the consequences of not staying in good graces with local regulators.

Get the lay of the land ›

Legislative Update

We are not always the bearer of bad news. A handful of bills have been halted for the time being, notably the effort to eliminate no-pet policies. 

What's happening in Sacramento ›

Despite victories on the state level, the main event is Weinstein 3.0. 

Thanks to our friends at the Apartment Owners Association for republishing our article on galvanizing housing providers to provide a counter-narrative to a deep-pocketed camp of tenants’ advocates hellbent on repealing Costa-Hawkins. 

Let's take action and sway others ›

Ask a landlord attorney

In an ongoing series, we take on several questions posed by housing providers.

Asked and answered › 

If there is a change in owners or management, has the tenant been notified? 

It should make sense that whenever a property housing tenants is sold, or if there is a new property manager, the tenant should be apprised of the change in the status quo. 

For that matter, if contact information is changed, residents should be put on notice. Not only is this common sensible, but tenants’ attorneys could potentially tank an eviction action because the tenant was not informed of the identity of their new landlord or property manager. 

Do not fret - we have the form prepared.

At the risk of redundancy, we emphasize the need to register rental units if local requirements apply, as clients are hamstrung in removing problematic tenants without being transparent with the city where their property is located. We survey several locales on rent registry requirements.

In a victory for the rights of property owners, a bill that would eliminate no-pet policies has been halted and other ominous bills have met their demise, but now is not a time for celebration. 

Make no mistake, the assault on owners’ rights will continue and none more epic than efforts to repeal Costa-Hawkins with Weinstein 3.0. As the thermometer rises this summer, so will advertising for and against the decades-old law that limits the impulse of municipalities to impose increased rent control. 

We understand that there is a silent majority of property owners who are going about their everyday lives and do not want to participate in the political fray. Our message to them is to get involved because if passed, the Justice for Renters Act will directly impact their bottom line and upend their rental business as they once knew it.

To prepare for the eventuality that this crackpot measure passes, we are proponents of legally raising rents to future-proof the business of investment property owners, and our office is happy to assist in accomplishing this goal. 

Thank you for your continued engagement, and as a reminder, I’m accessible via email at daniel@bornstein.law.

Onward, 

Share this with like-minded housing providers, property managers, and real estate professionals.