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 Unilaterally Imposed Obligations

Posted by wasserman My lease does not cover move in/move out fees. I found out after I signed a tenant to a new lease that there is this fee by my condo association. Can I recover this when my tenant moves out in a mid-rise new building—i.e., no rent control? The answer is no. It […]

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When Tenant Will Not Pay the New Rent

Posted by wasserman I recently gave a tenant notice of an upcoming rent increase. He verbally told me that he has no intention of paying the new amount. What should I do? Service of rent increase notices can create tension. Oftentimes, tenants are unaware that your operating costs continue to rise. In recessions, when people […]

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Illegal Rent Increases

Posted by wasserman I told my tenant that I wanted to raise his rent $100 and he agreed.  Then I realized that even with banked rent increases I can only raise it about $30.  What should I do? Rescind the unlawful rent increase immediately, and promptly refund any overage to the tenant.  The rent law […]

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Keys to Apartments

Posted by wasserman Q: My tenant asked me if she could have an extra key to give to her boyfriend. She specified that he would not be living there, but that she would like him to be able to get in occasionally if she is not there. What should I do? For San Francisco rent […]

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When to Change the Locks

Posted by wasserman At what point during the eviction process can I change the locks on the apartment doors? After a drawn out eviction trial, there is no better feeling than winning your case and having a judgment granting you possession of your apartment. Sometimes the judgment will also include monetary awards, such as back […]

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 Comfort Pets and Allergies

Posted by wasserman I have a no-pet policy in my building, but recently one of my tenants said he needs a “comfort pet” and had the doctor’s note to back it up. I knew I had to allow him to have it, but now I have another tenant (with her own doctor’s note!) saying that […]