David P. (“Dave”) Wasserman has been representing landlords since he was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1994. He has also been a licensed real estate broker since 1996. In 2020, he completed his master’s degree in real estate from Georgetown University.
Dave opened a law office in 1995. In 1997 through 1999, he served on the Code Advisory Committee for the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection. In 2000, Dave was elected to the Board of Directors for the San Francisco Apartment Association, the largest landlord advocacy group in San Francisco. He became the Board’s vice-president in 2004 and served as SFAA President from 2005 through 2010. Today, he teaches Landlord 101, Subtenancy, and Lease Drafting to the SFAA membership. In addition, Dave has been a co-author of the SFAA Residential Tenancy Agreement since 1999 and continues to serve on the SFAA Board.
On the state level, Dave served as a member of the Board of Directors for the California Apartment Association from 2009 through 2010 and has consistently served as a member of the Government Affairs Committee since 2004. He also led the CAA Rent Control Policy Sub-Committee in 2010.
In 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and again in 2021, Dave was honored to be chosen by his peers as a Northern California Super Lawyer in real estate law.
Currently, Dave is the Vice President of the Executive Board of the Coalition for Better Housing (CBH), the primary lobbying group for San Francisco residential property owners. As a member of the CBH Executive Board, he continues with efforts to restrain damaging legislation and to promote reasonable rent laws in the City.
In 2021 Dave was elected to the Board of the Professional Property Managers Association of San Francisco or PPMA. This organization is the City’s premier property management trade group.
On January 16, 2015, the late Mayor Ed Lee appointed Dave to the San Francisco Rent Board. On November 30, 2018, Mayor London Breed elevated him to the voting Landlord Commissioner position.
Dave is also currently involved in the statewide effort to prevent the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act from being repealed.
Dave is a residential and commercial landlord and manages his own portfolio. He writes regularly for the SF Apartment Magazine and teaches continuing education classes. He also co-owns a property management company and enjoys playing tennis.
