Tenants' Rights In California: Solve Problems Before They Start

by Talamo, John J.

• ISBN13: 9781572485150
• ISBN10: 1572485159
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-02-01
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Inc

Summary

Signing a lease is easy. Understanding what you have obligated yourself to may not be. Whether your landlord is unresponsive to your needs, you want to make a change to your agreement or if your landlord is simply doing you wrong, you have rights that deserve protecting. Let Tenants'Rights in California help you stand up to your landlord and easily resolve problems. Learn how to: - Protect Your Security Deposit - Change the Terms of Your Lease - Avoid Problems with Your Landlord - Force Your Landlord to Make Repairs Essential documents you need to: - Understand Your Lease - Document Problems - Ensure the Return of Your Deposit - Avoid Eviction - And much more . . . "Their legal survival guides are dynamite and very readable." -Small Business Opportunities "Explaining the way the law works." -Daily Herald "Sphinx [legal guides] are staples of legal how-to collections." -Library Journal "An established legal guide." -Smart Money

Table of Contents

Using Self-Help Law Books	vii
Introduction	xi
Finding a Place to Rent	1	(6)
Rent
Space
Time of Occupancy
Location
Preparation
Credit Reports
Leases and Rental Agreements	7	(10)
Typical Agreements
The Condominium Lease
Verbal Leases and Rental Agreements
Rent	17	(2)
Discrimination	19	(10)
Financial Discrimination
Civil Rights Act, Section 1982
Fair Housing Act
Fair Housing Act 1988 Amendment
California Laws
Megan's Law Problems
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Security Deposits	29	(8)
Amount
Pictures
Keeping the Deposit
Suing the Landlord
When Property is Sold
Special Agreements	37	(4)
Insurance
Pets
Water Beds
Earthquakes and Floods
Changing the Terms of the Tenancy	41	(10)
Assignment or Sublease by Tenant
Sale of Property by Landlord
Raising the Rent
Modifying the Lease
Day Care	51	(2)
Problems During the Tenancy	53	(8)
Landlord's Access to the Premises
Bad Checks
Damage to the Property
Violations by the Landlord
Destruction of the Premises
Responsibility for Maintenance	61	(8)
Landlord's Duties
Waiver of Landlord's Duties
Tenant's Duties
Furnished Apartments
Tenant's Remedies
Telephones
Health Considerations and California Law	69	(4)
Mold
Proposition 65
Landlord's Liabilities	73	(8)
General Rules of Landlord Liability
Accidents
Pets
Crimes Against Tenants
Instances When a Landlord Can Be Liable
Problems at the End of the Tenancy	81	(6)
Automatic Renewal
Holding Over
Damage to the Premises
Property Abandoned by the Tenant
Terminating a Tenancy	87	(12)
Tenancies with No Specific Term
Expiration of Rental or Lease Term
Early Termination by Tenant
Abandonment
Early Termination by Landlord
Failure to Pay Rent
Curable Breach
Incurable Breach
Special Rules for Public Housing
Death of a Tenant
Options to Cancel
Reasons for Eviction	99	(6)
Violating Terms of the Rental Agreement
Staying After Your Lease Term Ends
Legal Violations
Retaliation
Dealing with Eviction	105	(14)
Before Eviction
Beginning the Eviction Process
Preparing for Trial
Trial
Tenant's Appeal
Filing Bankruptcy
Responsible Record Keeping
Tenants' Organizations	119	(10)
Forming an Organization
The First Meeting
The Second Meeting
Roommates, Lodgers, and the Law	129	(8)
Lodgers
Roommates
Guests
Self-Storage Facilities	137	(2)
Applicability
Rental Agreement
Termination for Unpaid Rent
Liens
Conclusion	139	(4)
Glossary	143	(10)
Appendix A: California Landlord/Tenant Statutes	153	(32)
Appendix B: Blank Forms	185	(84)
Index	269