The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on everyone’s lives. For many, the pandemic has caused a significant amount of financial strain and many people have struggled to pay the bills. One form of relief that many in the state of California have benefited from was the eviction moratorium, which prevented property owners from evicting tenants. However, this moratorium has ended and many tenants find themselves with significant past due rent bills while facing the risk of eviction. Fortunately, there can still be protections that tenants can have even after the eviction moratorium has expired. Apply For Rental Assistance One of the forms of protection you can receive if you have fallen behind on your rental payment is rental assistance. Anyone that has fallen behind and is facing eviction has the right to apply to the state’s Rent Relief Program. This program is designed to pay rent for tenants that were impacted by COVID-19.…Read More
Unfortunately, there are a lot of disputes that take place between renters and landlords. In some cases, these issues can lead to rent non-payment, which might lead to an eviction lawsuit. It is important to anticipate these issues ahead of time so that renters and landlords understand what their rights and obligations are. What are some of the most common examples of disputes that could lead to rent payment issues? The Security Deposit A lot of landlords require renters to pay a security deposit. Usually, the security deposit is refunded when the renter moves out; however, it can also be withheld due to rent non-payment and property damage. This is a common issue that frustrates renters and landlords because there is some confusion over what damages can be charged to the security deposit. Major repairs can be deducted from the security deposit, but normal wear and tear cannot. Property Damage Property damage is another common…Read More
Real estate law in California can be complicated, and one of the most common areas of dispute involves a security deposit. A security deposit is usually a deposit the renter pays when moving in to cover potential repair costs when he or she moves out. Unfortunately, there are issues when it comes time to refund the security deposit. What are the responsibilities of the renter and the landlord? The Responsibilities Of The Landlord It is the responsibility of the landlord to take every step possible to minimize potential disputes. For example, the landlord should prepare a move-out letter, letting the renter know exactly how the property should be left and how the final inspection should take place. It is also prudent for landlords to list legal deductions from the security deposit, including unpaid rent and potential repairs. Deductions cannot be taken for ordinary wear and tear. Then, the landlord must give the tenant the opportunity…Read More
Even though it is good news that many people are getting vaccinated, the pandemic is still a significant issue, even in California. A lot of families were worried that they would be unable to pay rent on time. This created the real threat of eviction. Now, the eviction moratorium has been extended through September 30, 2021. What does this mean for individuals, families, small businesses, and landlords? What Is The Eviction Moratorium? The eviction moratorium means that landlords are not able to evict a current resident or tenant due to rent nonpayment through 9/30/21. Even after this time, landlords who would like to evict their residents must show proof that they applied for rental assistance. Then, if they can prove the resident did not qualify for rental assistance or did not complete an application, then the eviction lawsuit can move forward. Why Was The Eviction Moratorium Extended? The eviction moratorium was extended because the coronavirus…Read More
The coronavirus pandemic has had an adverse impact on individuals, families, and small businesses everywhere. Now, the California eviction moratorium has been extended. Relief has been made available for renters all over the state, so it is important for everyone to know who is eligible and what their rights are. Who Is Eligible For Relief? Households that are eligible for relief must be at or below 80 percent of the median income of the surrounding neighborhoods during 2020 or 2021. Individuals who are below 50 percent of the median income of their regions will be prioritized when applying for relief. In addition, individuals and families are going to be made eligible for rental assistance regardless of their current immigration status. Tenants who may have moved out of their homes during the pandemic might be eligible for rental support even though they were not covered during previous rounds of relief. What This Means For Renters This…Read More
Ready, Set, Baby! Financial Planning Tips For Parenthood By Susan Doktor The joy I felt when I was expecting my first child—or children, as it turned out, because I gave birth to twins—was unlike any feeling I’d ever experienced before. I remember painstakingly picking out fabrics for the handmade quilts I commissioned for my son’s cribs. Fantasizing and eventually agonizing over what to name my boys. (For a while, before we knew they were boys, we called them Mango and Kiwi—go figure.) We documented my ever-growing belly with monthly photos. We listened at home to the babies’ heartbeats with a fetal stethoscope, mostly for the fun of it, but also because I was the proverbial Nervous Nelly as my due date approached. Our anticipation of meeting our kids for the first time was exquisite. But it was tinged with anxiety. What exactly were we getting into? I’ll give you a hint. It’s wasn’t all booties, bottles, and baby…Read More
The vast majority of people who sign a lease in California intend to stay for the entire year; however, circumstances can change quickly. Therefore, you may want to leave before your lease is up. If you break your lease, you need to know what responsibilities you have and when this is justified. Furthermore, your landlord might try to break your lease or force you to move out early as well. What does this look like, and when is this allowed? When A Landlord Can Break Your Lease When you sign a lease, you and your landlord are under a binding contract. Usually, this lasts a year. Under a typical lease, a landlord cannot force you to move out unless: You violate the lease terms, such as throwing large parties or damaging the property You fail to pay rent on time You commit a felony Under these circumstances, a landlord might be able to break your…Read More
What Are Considered Dangerous Conditions In CA? According to Gov. Code, § Section 830, subd. (a) (1963), Dangerous Conditions means “a condition of property that creates a substantial (as distinguished from a minor, trivial or insignificant) risk of injury when such property or adjacent property is used with due care in a manner in which it is reasonably foreseeable that it will be used.” Section 835 considers public property dangerous if the property is physically damaged, deteriorated, or defective in a manner that foresees the endangerment of the tenants using the property. Bonnano v. Central Costa Transit Auth (2003) 30 Cal. 4th 139, 149, states property in California may be dangerous “because of the design or location of the improvement, the interrelationship of its structural or natural features, or the presence of latent hazards associated with its normal use.” What Are The Responsibilities Of A Landlord To Not Have Dangerous Conditions? The California Civil Code mandates that landlords…Read More
Your legal and estate planning documents are some of the most important things that you have and should be kept up to date and organized. It can be hard to determine how to best organize these documents but with a bit of help, you can get your documents in perfect order. Why Organize Your Estate Planning Documents? When someone passes away the last thing that anyone wants to do is spend hours upon hours trying to sort through your estate planning documents. It can be hard to focus, it can be difficult to stay on task and find the documents you need, and it can be hard to find what you are looking for. An Orange County estate planning lawyer can help you get all the documents that you need and can help you find out how to best organize them. When storing your documents, storing by type and date is typically the best way to organize…Read More
Estate plans are a fantastic way to make dealing with the death of a loved one a bit easier and to help resolve the estate of someone that has passed. Knowing what you should be doing for your estate and when to update your plans is essential. There are some great tips that you can follow that will make your estate planning easier. When To Update Your Estate Plan – Major Life Changes When it comes to contacting an Anaheim CA estate planning attorney it is always best to take the time to update your estate planning documents after each major life change. This means when you have a child, when you get married or divorced, if you retire or if you get a new home, these are all major life events that would require a change in the estate documents that you have. Updating the documents that you have when you have a major life event…Read More
