A lease is a legal document that stipulates the terms of a rental agreement, to protect both the renter and the landlord. Learn more in the articles, columns, blog posts, videos and radio shows about what should be included in a lease and the different options out there.
Can My Landlord Terminate My Lease During COVID-19?
Can my landlord terminate my lease during COVID-19? This reader wants to know if it’s possible and how much notice they’ll be given. Q: If you rent on a month-to-month basis, can the owner terminate the lease during the COVID-19 pandemic? And, if the landlord does notify a tenant that the landlord elects to terminate [...]
What Can I Do If My Landlord Doesn’t Return My Security Deposit?
What can I do if my landlord doesn’t return my security deposit? My landlord sold the unit after condo deconversion but never gave the deposit back to me. Q: I am a tenant in a building that was recently deconverted from condos to apartments. Prior to the deconversion, I had rented the condo from the [...]
Rental Property Investors Violate Home-Sharing Regulations
When rental property investors violate home-sharing regulations, depending on where you are, city violations on short-term rentals can get costly. The city of San Francisco recently reached a $2.25 million settlement with a couple who violated the city’s short-term rental regulations when home sharing on Airbnb. Darren and Valerie Lee were sued in 2014 after [...]
Can You Keep the Security Deposit After a Tenant Breaks the Lease?
Can you keep the security deposit after a tenant breaks the lease? When a tenant breaks the lease on your rental property, you could be entitled to keep the security deposit based on your state’s laws. Q: Can I keep the security deposit my tenant gave me after he broke the lease? Here's what happened: [...]