Astute housing providers and real estate professionals know what they know and know what they don't know.

Daniel Bornstein and his team are dedicated to educating the rental housing community on laws germane to their real estate business. With a working knowledge of the law, owners and their agents can make smart and strategic decisions about investment properties and cauterize risk by avoiding costly mistakes.

The statewide eviction process

Except for some additional notice requirements, the choreographed steps of California's unlawful detainer (eviction) process have fundamentally remained unchanged. The finality is a trial or a settlement to transition the tenant out of the rental unit.

Webinars that explain the legal landscape in easy-to-understand terms

It's important to get a framework of what you know, and don't know, to identify potential pitfalls, and to find opportunities unknown to other investors and real estate professionals not so dialed in.

Although we have enjoyed taking the personal approach of hosting live events at the Fort Mason Center and other venues, we've become acclimated to the new normal of online events.

Watch and listen →

Email broadcasts that keep you IN THE KNOW

We've made it a lifelong mission to update the real estate community on legal developments and routinely send out timely emails to our valued clients, colleagues, referral partners, and other friends.

View our latest email broadcasts →

What we're following

We are heavy consumers of the latest happenings that impact housing providers and sometimes, our firm is asked to chime in on the stories we read.

Visit our microblog →

SECURITY DEPOSIT FLOWCHART

Fundamentally, California's rules surrounding security deposits have not changed for decades, but new rules go into effect on July 1, 2024, limiting the amount that can be demanded.

For the visual types, we've put together a handy flowchart to understand the newfangled rules and what exemptions apply.

Download the flowchart →

SECURITY DEPOSIT DEDUCTION GUIDE

When a tenant is on their way out, rest assured that the first thing they think about even before they how to fit a huge sofa down the stairs is if and when they will get the security deposit back.

What is normal wear and tear, and what constitutes damage beyond normal wear and tear? Depicted in this chart.

Download the chart

IN-DEPTH: TENANT BUYOUT AGREEMENTS

Under a compliant, properly negotiated tenant buyout agreement, the tenant voluntarily vacates the unit in exchange for compensation, a rent waiver, the return of the security deposit, or any combination of incentives. Our office brokers these deals all the time.

For many clients in certain jurisdictions, a tenant buyout may be the only vehicle to effectuate a vacancy when there are no other convenient or legal means to evict.

Learn more and download our guide »

IN-DEPTH: RESPONDING TO HOARDING 

Sometimes, a rental unit can go beyond being unkempt and cluttered. The squalor can present serious egress and public health issues that must be proactively addressed

Landlords and property managers need to take immediate action and this may involve reaching out to outside agencies to address the underlying problem.

Learn how to make sense of this vexing issue and how to react →

IN DEPTH: ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS: THESE PINT-SIZED UNITS CAN CREATE BIG PROBLEMS

Despite their charm, the planning and construction of ADUs can be fraught with problems. If the unit is being rented out, there are a host of legal concerns. If the landlord is renting out an illegal unit, there are even more minefields to navigate.

Get a 360-degree view here →
Listen to our audio recording of a seminar →
Download presentation slides on COPA →