Real Estate Law

When a tenant rents a residential apartment, they usually provide a security deposit. As a landlord, your initial goal for this deposit may simply be to protect yourself if the tenant fails to pay their rent. You already have a certain amount of money on file that you...

Landlords have the right to enforce lease terms and protect their property, but those rights have legal limits. Certain conduct intended to pressure a tenant into leaving a rental unit may expose a property owner to liability under California landlord/tenant law....

Easements grant neighbors, local businesses or utility companies access to private property. Easements can make a landlocked parcel accessible or allow one property owner to use resources present on an adjacent parcel, such as sources of surface water. Easements can...

A roommate who refuses to move out can create stress fast, especially when you share bills, space or a lease. Even if the person is not paying rent, they may still have certain housing rights under landlord/tenant law.  That means changing locks, removing belongings...

When drafting a lease contract for your tenants, an important clause to include is terms for early cancellation. Some renters may need to end their lease before their contract is up, and well-defined terms for early cancellations protect the rights of both parties and...

Real estate disclosure laws primarily focus on defects that impact the use of a property, such as issues with the HVAC system or problems with the plumbing. However, those selling homes may also sometimes need to disclose facts about the property that can affect its...

Property disputes can arise when neighbors are unsure about where one property ends and another begins. These issues often involve easements or unclear boundary lines. Resolving these conflicts early is important to avoid long-term complications. With the right...

Securing a commercial space for your new business is an exciting milestone. However, commercial leases in California work very differently from residential ones. The law gives you far fewer automatic protections, so the lease contract carries almost all of the weight....

Easements are a legal arrangement that gives a non-owner the right to use another person’s property. There are several different types of easements, one of which is the easement by necessity. This type of easement is needed when a parcel of land isn’t accessible...

For most landlords, having to evict a tenant is a dreaded task and often one that’s used only as a last resort. Eviction is a legal process that requires landlords to follow very specific procedures before they can remove the tenant from the property.  Landlords in...