ImageRECENT ISSUES

Residential landlords need to pay attention to recent and prospective changes in the law.  As we have seen over the past couple of years, the idea that there should be additional controls imposed on landlords, due to a severe housing shortage in California, has been growing.  Recently, the Governor and the legislators agreed to move AB 1482 forward. This will prohibit a landlord from increasing the rent by more than 5% plus inflation annually. This Bill will not apply to housing built within the last 15 years.  The ordinance also provides that for tenants who have lived in the rental unit for more than a year, the Landlord must renew the Lease and cannot terminate a Lease except generally for some good cause, including but not limited to failure to pay rent, breach of the rental agreement, criminal activity and failure to give the Landlord access.  Stay tuned for further restrictions!

On another topic, one issue that has been popping up recently in residential real estate sales, is that Buyers are complaining that the selling agent has not advised the Buyers to obtain an inspection of the septic system.  Obviously, these complaints happen when the septic tank or leach field fails after close of escrow. It is clear that when buying a residence which uses a septic system, Buyers should always get an inspection of the septic system by an appropriate septic system contractor.