Real Estate Law Blog
We only take a select number of cases so we can fight for you
at the highest level to resolve your case through negotiation or trial.
Our attorneys provide personal care in our clients' cases.
After you make an appointment, you will meet
with the lawyers who will be handling your case.
Giving You a Fighting Chance with Prop F
A tenant facing eviction calls me. I show up in court, and the landlord changes his mind about evicting the tenant.
This isn’t the first time it’s happened. Landlords know when the tenant has legal representation, they’ve got someone with fighting for them.
According to the San Francisco Public Press, Attorney Carolyn Gold, who runs the pro-bono landlord-tenant program at the Justice & Diversity Center of the San Francisco Bar Association, also has experienced the same.
A Win for Section 8 Tenants
The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office received a significant legal victory over a landlord and their agent earlier this month. Between May 2013 and May 2014, Chuck Post, agent for Lem-Ray Properties I DE, LLC (or Lem-Ray for short) ran ads on Craigslist and ApartmentsInSF.com for studio apartments at 935 Geary Street in San Francisco. The ads stated Section 8 vouchers would not be accepted.
Don’t Get a Buyout from Your Landlord: Part 3
In my last two blogs, “Don’t Get a Buyout for Your Landlord: Part 1“ and “Don’t Get a Buyout for Your Landlord: Part 2,” I discussed how landlords favor buyouts. In this blog, I’ll take an even closer look at the amounts paid to tenants to show the pitfall for you as a tenant accepting a buyout.
Don’t Get a Buyout from Your Landlord: Part 2
In my last blog, “Don’t Get a Buyout from Your Landlord: Part 1,” I discussed the San Francisco Tenant Buyout ordinance and how it was created to protect you as a tenant.
In this blog, I’m looking at the statistics to show you the meaning behind the numbers. As the saying goes, knowledge is power, and understanding the trends will help you protect your tenant rights.
Don’t Get a Buyout from Your Landlord: Part 1
As an attorney, I’ve learned not to say “never.” There’s always exceptions.
Still, never accepting a buyout is a good rule of thumb.
A buyout is when your landlord offers you cash in exchange for you vacating your home. When landlord waves thousands of dollars in your face, it’s hard to think clearly. After all, that kind of thing doesn’t happen every day.
The Case of the Complicated Agreement
The law can be complicated. That’s why I suggest tenants reconsider representing themselves in disagreements with the landlord.
A recent case, Sayta v. Chu, was heard by the Court of Appeal here in San Francisco. It’s a notable case to post about in this blog because it demonstrates how complicated the law can be.
Introducing My New Associate
I’m pleased to introduce my new associate, Courtney Brown.
Courtney Brown graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.
At the Golden Gate University School of Law, she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. Courtney won numerous academic awards for her achievements in writing, research, and evidence.
The Case of the Locked-Out Tenant Who Hired an Attorney
This case is about a tenant who fought a bad landlord and the hard-working attorney she hired. Based on the antics of the landlord, the court eventually awarded the tenant a considerable amount to money.
The court even labelled the landlord as “vexatious.” In law, it means that the court categorized the landlord as a party who brings actions purely to cause annoyance.
A Lesson about Rent Control from Santa Rosa
I heard a rumor two weeks ago that a number of 60-day notices to raise rents went out to Santa Rosa tenants even while the wildfires were still burning.
Santa Rosa has no rent control. Santa Rosa’s City Council had passed a rent and eviction control ordinance in August of 2016, but according to The San Francisco Chronicle, the California Apartment Association and its allies collected enough signatures to force the City Council to rescind the ordinance or send it to voters. Residents voted against it in a special election held this past June.
Ready for Aggressive Legal Help?
Talk with an experienced lawyer in an obligation-free telephone consultation. We will personally review your challenging, out-of-the-ordinary case for free whereas other firms charge for a consultation.
Contact Form
"*" indicates required fields
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.
The use of the Internet or this website for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through these media.