Real Estate Law

Neighbors often run into disagreements regarding fences and property lines. You may have heard people talk about spite fences and how problematic these can be. But what is a spite fence, exactly? It is illegal to build these fences, but what should you be looking for...

When you append your signature on a lease agreement, you hope to reside on the property through the tenancy period and possibly renew your contract. Unfortunately, this is not always a guarantee. A lease is a legal contract, meaning that both the landlord and the...

The “right of first refusal” is a clause in a real estate contract that landlords often see in their commercial contracts, although residential renters may also ask for this in their contracts if they particularly love the property they’re renting.  In essence, the...

New laws have been enacted in California over the past couple of years to help deal with the state’s serious shortage of affordable housing. These laws have eased the restrictions around accessible dwelling units (ADUs). This has allowed people to turn garages,...

A boundary dispute with your neighbor can break down the relations you have with them and lower the value of the land or property in question. Therefore, if you are in the middle of a boundary misunderstanding, it is important to find a way of resolving everything...

In most cases, people sublet the property to save on rent or make some money off the additional tenant. Subletting can take two forms. A tenant can move out of the apartment and hand it over to a third party without changing the details on the lease, or they could...

Your kids have wanted to have a treehouse for quite a while, so you finally decided to build one. You put it up over the weekend and thought nothing about the structure until your neighbor came over complaining that you put the house in their tree. You were surprised...

If you’re new to being a landlord in California (or anywhere), there’s a lot to learn. California has greater protections for tenants than many states do. Whether you’re renting your guesthouse or an entire home, it’s crucial to know your tenants’ rights – and your...

As a landlord, it's very important to know when you are legally obligated to repair the space that your tenant is renting. For residential properties, it is always important for landlords to keep the space in a safe and livable condition.  Landlords are also obligated...

If you own a property and are currently dealing with a boundary dispute, you may be concerned that you won’t be able to sell it. Legally, you can sell a property that has a boundary dispute, but you will need to disclose this information to the buyer. This may make it...