On Jan. 1, 2018, numerous laws relevant to the rental housing industry took effect in California. In the paragraphs below, we summarize the most significant of these laws for the rental property owners. 1) IMMIGRATION STATUS Targeting discrimination: Under AB 291, dubbed the Immigrant Tenant Protection Act, a landlord could face civil penalties if he… Read More
California Apartment Association Working to Passthrough Legislation to Support Landlords
April 25, 2016 by
The California Apartment Association is working with the California State Legislature to passthrough legislation that would benefit landlords. Several pro-housing bills made progress this week by making their way out of their respective committees. Legislation affecting density, including the legalization of in-law units, is included in the legislation, which would make it easier for property owners… Read More
Understanding “Rent Ordinance 2.0”
March 24, 2016 by
On September 9, 2015, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed amendments to the Rent Ordinance expanding tenant rights even further. Supervisor Jane Kim’s legislation, which further expanded tenant rights is now known as Rent Ordinance 2.0. If you thought being a landlord under the original version was difficult, 2.0 has more obstacles to navigate…. Read More
San Francisco 2015 Ballot Issues that Affect Landlords
October 13, 2015 by
The November 3 ballot is teeming with issues with outcomes that will affect property owners. While several of the propositions seem worthy of your vote on the surface, digging a little deeper reveals that the result of their passage may not have the intended effects. See how Lingsch Realty voted below. Prop A: Affordable Housing… Read More
How Small Property Owners Can Compete with New Developments
June 25, 2015 by
It seems every day there is a news article about San Francisco’s increasing median rents. They are the highest in the country. They are rising. You can see the most talked about data from Zumper here. But is this really a true reflection of what is going on all over the city? To see why this… Read More
Happy New Year! What to Expect in 2015
January 19, 2015 by
A new year brings new hope for us as landlords and unfortunately new determination for tenants’ unions to pass more tenant-friendly legislation. Landlords were successful in 2014 in knocking down some landmark legislation and court rulings aimed at making owning properties more difficult and costly, including SB 1439 (Leno) and Levin vs. San Francisco. 2015 vows to… Read More
Give a Tenant an Inch, They’ll Take a Mile…And More!
August 22, 2014 by
While we all try to get the best tenants possible, occasionally a bad one slips through the cracks, or we may purchase a new building and inherit such a tenant. They may pay their rent late, create nuisances for other tenants or create safety hazards in the building. While it can be a frustrating and… Read More
In a Wave of Bad New for Landlords, A Small Victory for a Lingsch Realty Client
July 24, 2014 by
I truly love my job and count my blessings each day for the wonderful opportunity my grandfather bestowed on me. However, I would be remiss if I did not confess that the current media portrayal of the rental market and tenants’ sense of entitlement frustrates me. From tenants’ unwillingness to cooperate with construction that will… Read More
Preserve the Ellis Act
April 20, 2014 by
San Francisco lawmakers have introduced a pair of bills to the state legislature that would hamper a property owner’s ability to quit the rental housing business. The pending bill, which would force buyers to own a building for at least five years before they could evict tenants using the Ellis Act, has moved out of… Read More