Real Estate Law Blog
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Illegal short-term rentals
Your landlord rents your next door apartment to strangers for short-term rentals. You notice that about every 10 days, a stranger appears at the door of the apartment and picks up the morning paper. You suspect this type of short term rental is not allowed under the San Francisco Rent Ordinance, but you are not […]
Bad faith owner move-in?
You are a long-term San Francisco tenant of at least 10 years. You live in a building built before 1979. Then you receive a 60 day termination of tenancy from your landlord that she wants to move into your home and you have to leave. Most landlord owner move-in notices state: “This notice is given […]
The beginning of the end of Rent Control or not?
Death by a thousand cuts describes a form of torture. One or two cuts would not hurt. However, after many or a thousand cuts, the injuries can cause death. The court of appeals recently denied decrease in services petitions for two Santa Monica tenants. This decision might be another decrease in the effectiveness of rent […]
The San Francisco Rent Ordinance and fire
The San Francisco Rent Ordinance provides for relocation payments in the event of an owner move-in or if the landlord wants to do capital improvements in your home. Unfortunately, the Rent Ordinance does not entitle tenants to relocation payments in the event of a fire. However, if your San Francisco home is under rent control, […]
Rental agreement changes and your landlord
Effective February 1, 2012, rules issued by the San Francisco Rent Board will change to better protect tenants against landlords unilaterally changing the terms of the lease. Currently, a landlord may change the terms of a tenant’s lease by merely sending the tenant new lease terms. The proposed Rules and Regulations section 12.20 states a […]
The San Francisco Rent Ordinance and single family homes
The San Francisco Rent Ordinance governs rental housing. While the Rent Ordinance affects mostly apartments buildings built before 1979, it also affects tenants in single family homes. The Rent Ordinance mandates that a tenant’s rent can only be increased under the limit set by the Rent Board. Currently the increase allowed is 0.5% of the […]
Dog Bites and Your Landlord’s Liability in California
Under some circumstances, a California landlord can be held liable when a tenant’s dog bites someone. For example, if the landlord has received notice that a tenant had a vicious dog, or knows that a fence is not repaired which allows dogs get into the building. In such cases, the landlord would be liable to […]
What to Know if Your Building is Sold in San Francisco
What happens when your building is sold and you are under the San Francisco Rent Ordinance? Nothing! That’s right-nothing. Legislation passed in 2008 now requires the seller and buyer of a multi-unit building to disclose to tenants (in writing) that they cannot be evicted just because the building was sold. The buyer and seller must […]
What to do about Housing Code Violations in San Francisco Bay Area
You believe your home has serious violations of the housing code. But you are not certain. How can you tell? “Substantial” compliance is the standard. Landlords are not required to have their properties in a “perfect, aesthetically pleasing” condition. In most cases, substantial compliance with applicable code standards affecting health and safety will the landlord’s […]
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Mary Catherine Wiederhold
Real Estate Attorney
1458 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 533-0735
(415) 843-0496Our offices are conveniently accessible to public transportation.
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