Real Estate Law Blog
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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 […]
Homebuyers, Tenants and You
The burst of the housing bubble is hurting tenants as more people decide not to buy homes. In 2004, before the Great Recession, the percentage of Americans who were homeowners was 69 percent. Now according to the New York Times, the percentage of homeowners has declined to 66 percent. Some experts expect homeownership to decline […]
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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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