Over 3 million households in California live in rental properties. Investment properties have become a popular method for Californians to earn passive income, but California is also one of the most tenant-friendly states in the country. Tenants have many rights and protections under California law, which means that property managers and landlords must be informed about many different areas. To better educate landlords and tenants about rental property law in California, Brewer Offord & Pedersen LLP has produced a webinar series, entitled California Landlord Basics. This three-part series explores major themes and topics in landlord-tenant law by featuring real estate attorneys who dissect essential landlord responsibilities in a way that is easy to understand. The first webinar in the series focuses on deposits, leases, and habitability issues. The second webinar focuses on pests, mold, and lease termination. The third installment in the series gives an in-depth look into the process of evictions and unlawful detainers. You can watch a video replay of the webinars, as well as download the accompanying slide deck for the webinar, by clicking below.
Part 1 – Deposits, Leases, & Habitability
The first installment in the California Landlord Basics series focuses on the three areas in which landlords often have the most questions. First, the webinar explains the basics of leasing, including the various methods for drafting a lease, the key terms that should be in a lease, and the ways that a landlord can terminate a lease. Second, the webinar explains the duty of habitability that the law has created for landlords. The attorneys explain what constitutes a habitable unit vs. a non-habitable unit, and give an overview of what happens when a violation is discovered. Finally, the attorneys discuss deposits for rental properties in California, explaining statutory maximum deposit amount, allowed uses for deposits, and laws governing deposit refunds after move-out.
Watch Part 1 of the webinar series by clicking the button below:
Part 2 – Pests, Mold, & Lease Termination
The most contentious disputes between landlords and tenants in California are often concerning the habitability of the property. When tenants discover issues, such as mold or pest infestations, the landlords have a legal responsibility to address the issue. In this webinar, the attorneys cover the many ways that a lease can be terminated, including voluntary breaks, involuntary breaks, breaches, and abandonment. The attorneys also discuss habitability concerns with rental property, focusing on how the court determines what constitutes a habitable unit. In circumstances where there has been water damage, mold, or a pest infestation, the expert go over elements such as cost coverage, available remedies, withholding rent, and statutory remediation responsibilities.
Watch Part 2 of the webinar series by clicking the button below:
Part 3 – Evictions & Unlawful Detainers
Most tenants and landlords in California get along fine, and there are no issues. However, occasionally a landlord faces a situation where he or she must evict a tenant. In the third installment of the California Landlord Basics series, the attorneys discuss the fundamentals of evictions and unlawful detainers. The program first talks about the process of evicting a tenant, including notice requirements and rights of entry. Then, the attorneys discuss common pitfalls that affect a successful eviction, as well as tenant defenses to an eviction. Finally, the webinar covers how evictions go through the courts, and how landlords can enforce a judgment once one is finally obtained.
Watch Part 3 of the webinar series by clicking the button below:
