What is a renter generally required to fix before moving out?
Moving out of a rental? Learn what tenants are required to fix, what counts as normal wear and tear, and how to avoid losing your security deposit.
Red-hot rental market is cooling in a good sign for inflation
Cooling rental prices are offering relief to renters and may help ease inflation. Driven by new housing supply and economic uncertainty, the shift signals a changing rental market and potential stabilization in the broader economy.
Benefits of Keeping Good Tenants in Your Rental
Keeping good tenants is one of the smartest strategies for landlords. From reducing vacancy costs to avoiding time-consuming turnovers, long-term tenants help maximize profitability and simplify property
California Assembly Considering a Bill to Reduce the Deposit a Landlord Can Require
California’s proposed AB 12 aims to cap rental security deposits at one month’s rent, potentially lowering upfront costs for tenants while significantly impacting landlords’ ability to recover damages and unpaid rent.
January 2023 Legal Q & A
A practical landlord-tenant Q&A covering key legal scenarios—from security deposits and third-party rent payments to handling nuisance tenants, lease responsibilities after divorce, and enforcing property rules. Learn what landlords can and cannot do under common lease situations.
Beware of Common Housing Scams
Rental scams are becoming more common, with fraudsters breaking into vacant properties, posing as landlords, and collecting deposits from unsuspecting tenants. Learn how these scams work—and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim.
How Often Does a Landlord Have to Replace Carpet, Repaint, or Make Repairs?
Learn how often landlords typically replace carpets, repaint units, and handle repairs. From 24–48 hour fixes to 3–5 year maintenance cycles, here’s what renters can realistically expect.
Application Fraud Grows as Rents Increase
Rising home prices during the pandemic pushed more people into renting, creating intense demand and skyrocketing rents. As affordability declined, rental application fraud surged, with millions of applicants submitting altered documents or false information to secure housing.
Landlords Accused of Rent Gouging Must Now Pay Into Homelessness Programs
A Santa Monica landlord is facing criminal charges after allegedly raising rent from $865 to $3,000 in just two months during a declared emergency. The case highlights strict price gouging laws and growing efforts to protect tenants from unlawful rent increases.
The Inflation Effect on Rent: When to Increase Rent
Rising inflation is reshaping the rental market, influencing how and when landlords adjust rent. Learn how inflation affects rental income, the right timing for increases, and strategies to raise rent without losing tenants.
Top Five Tenant Complaints and How To Handle Them
Discover the top five most common tenant complaints—ranging from noisy pets to parking disputes—and learn practical strategies landlords can use to resolve conflicts efficiently while maintaining positive tenant relationships.
How To Determine Reasonable Charges for Tenant Damages
Learn what landlords can legally deduct from a tenant’s security deposit, including how to distinguish damage from normal wear and tear, calculate reasonable repair costs, and comply with notice and documentation requirements.
December Legal Q&A
A comprehensive landlord legal Q&A covering carpet depreciation, pet restrictions, lease notice requirements, collecting judgments, tenant noise concerns, lock changes, and guest occupancy rules.
When a Landlord Can Keep the Security Deposit
Learn when landlords can legally keep a tenant’s security deposit, including common reasons like lease violations, unpaid rent, property damage, excessive cleaning, and unpaid utilities.
Rents Drop for First Time in Two Years After Climbing to Records
U.S. rents declined for the first time in nearly two years, signaling a potential shift in the rental market as new apartment supply increases and consumer demand softens.
‘No One Wants To Catch a Falling Knife’: What To Expect in the Housing Market for the Rest of 2022
The once red-hot housing market has slowed dramatically as mortgage rates surged from under 3% to over 7%, pushing affordability out of reach for many buyers. With prices beginning to decline—but not enough to offset higher borrowing costs—both buyers and sellers are holding back, creating a market stalemate. Experts predict modest price corrections rather than a crash, as the housing market adjusts to rising rates and shifting demand.
November Q & A
A practical landlord-tenant Q&A covering third-party rent payments, notice requirements, lease obligations, repairs, and handling damages—based on California law guidelines.
Application Fraud Grows as Rents Increase
Rising rents and limited housing supply have led to a surge in rental application fraud, with many applicants falsifying documents or identities to secure housing. This article explores the causes, common fraud tactics, and practical steps landlords can take to protect themselves.
SEVEN TYPES OF TENANTS Every Landlord Should Want
Choosing the right tenant is one of the most critical decisions a landlord can make. From strong rental history to hidden potential applicants, proper tenant selection directly impacts net operating income (NOI), reduces costly turnover, and increases long-term property value
Rents fell in some California metro areas; is a wider cooling trend ahead?
Rent prices continue to rise nationwide, but key California markets like the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitan area are seeing declines—hinting at a potential cooling trend in the U.S. rental market.