Landlord Attorneys | SF, Oakland and throughout the Bay Area

The firm built for landlords, property managers, and real estate professionals.

Throughout the long, dark winter of COVID, politicians got together to protect the rights of tenants while little effort was made to look out for the interests of property owners. That's the domain of Bornstein Law, a boutique law firm that manages landlord-tenant relationships and complex real estate litigation throughout the Bay Area.

CONSULTATION

We've experienced the full evolution of landlord-tenant law.

When we began our legal career nearly three decades ago, there were only three local ordinances in the Bay Area governing rent and eviction controls.

Fast forward to today and tenant protections have proliferated throughout California, with no end in sight for even more new rules to contend with in an already complicated regulatory regime.

Rest assured, landlords can lose an eviction case or face a costly lawsuit for the most minor of errors. There is a phalanx of tenants' attorneys anxious to identify these mistakes, many of whom are subsidized by the government.

By tethering yourself to Bornstein Law, you can avoid pitfalls, identify opportunities as a knowledgeable owner or real estate practitioner, and optimize rental income.

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Recent online meetups

FEATURED PODCAST

Daniel was invited to speak about the challenges facing landlords in Alameda County, home to the most stringent tenant protections anywhere. Listen in.

Daniel Bornstein recognized as the "ultimate advocate" in a ceremony

Daniel, I think, is doing something that is unheard of, and has not been done before, where you have the 'ultimate advocate,' advocating for the property owner in court, advocating for the property owner outside of court, with the educational classes, so this is fantastic. Nobody has done this before, and nobody has this combination of services you are offering, and I think if you didn't exist in this room we'd have to invent you.

~ Wayne Rowland, President of the East Bay Rental Housing Association (EBRHA)

NEWSROOM
We raise the voice of rental housing providers

Although the political rhetoric nowadays falls squarely on the side of tenants, Bornstein Law offers a fresh perspective through the lens of underrepresented property owners. Numerous media outlets have called upon us to articulate your case.

IN THE MEDIA

ARTICLES

Browse our archive of articles

We report the latest happenings and share our thoughts on a myriad of issues impacting our community of landlords, property managers, and the professionals who serve them →

Case Studies

Bornstein Law Victory: Jury Trial - Alameda County Superior Court »

Bornstein Law secures a judgment in a forcible detainer action »

The leaning tower of San Francisco »

Nuisance eviction during the height of the pandemic »

We take on the Oakland Rent Board, argue that a rent increase is permissible during this condo conversion and courts agree »

Through a forcible detainer action, property owners can remove occupants who overstay their welcome »

Not just "cash for keys." A tenant buyout agreement removes any residual liability that could arise from the tenancy and it comes with other perks.

Astute landlords understand the benefits of a voluntary vacancy. Typically, rents can be raised when a tenant leaves on their own free will and other things being equal, a vacant property will sell for more than one that is tenant occupied. In some locales, a tenant buyout agreement may be the only option to effectuate a vacancy.

We know of no other law office in the Bay Area so prolific and experienced in overseeing these agreements.

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Own or manage commercial properties? While we are the "go-to" firm for managing residential rental relationships, we are not a one-trick pony.

From the negotiation of commercial leases at the inception of the rental relationship to managing disputes and evicting a tenant for nonpayment or other breaches of the lease, Bornstein Law can assist.

Videos that break down complex landlording rules in an easily digestible fashion. Articles that give you the total picture. Downloadable PDFs. Blogs, weekly email broadcasts, and heart-to-heart podcasts. Whatever it takes to educate our community about an ever-changing regulatory regime and develop a mindset of thinking smartly and strategically about your real estate investments.

Peruse our resources →

Stay abreast of the latest developments

Laws and regulations can have the shelf life of a banana peel, but we'll keep you in the know.

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Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. This honor is not a given, even for highly competent attorneys. Super Lawyers recognizes the top 5 percent of the lawyers in the state. Independent research and peer evaluations single out the cream of the crop in more than 70 practice areas.

Events for savvy rental property owners and real estate professionals

Daniel is renowned for giving talks to numerous organizations and hosting events on the legal challenges facing rental housing providers and the professionals who serve them. Attend an upcoming event, or reach out for a private get together with your team.

When it comes to landlord-tenant law, not all attorneys are created equal.

Some real estate attorneys handle boundary disputes. Others deal with mortgage fraud. Other attorneys specialize in real estate closings. The law has become very niche-specific. At Bornstein Law, we do one thing, and we do it very well. We manage landlord-tenant relationships on a daily basis. Please don't find a real estate attorney who will charge you to research what we already know because it's already in our orbit.