Imagine the terror of a woman, man or elder who is being stalked or who has been assaulted in California and fears for her life because the perpetrator knows where she lives. If it were you, you would likely be on edge all the time, anxious and worrying about it...
Month: January 2018
Excessive heat, restrictive policies prompt tenant lawsuit
When considering the landlord/tenant relationship, many in Santa Cruz may only associate it with residential dwellings. Yet it should be remembered that many of the businesses that people frequent every day are in fact tenants renting commercial space. Just as...
Protect property from squatters by being vigilant
When there are easily accessed online articles and even a few websites dedicated to helping squatters be successful, it is easy to understand why the practice is so widespread. Property owners In California need to take extra care in safeguarding their property due to...
Can I force my property co-owners to sell?
There are times when co-owners of a California property disagree on whether to sell or keep it. It might be a couple who bought the home together but now want a divorce. It could be one of several siblings or relatives who co-own an inheritance and one of them has...
What is the difference between a rental agreement and a lease?
While the words lease and rental agreements are often used interchangeably, they actually refer to two different types of rental contracts. A lease is a detailed long-term rental contract whereas a rental agreement is a renewable short-term contract. Depending on the...
Seller disclosures: what does a seller need to tell you?
In real estate, seller disclosure is the buyer’s opportunity to learn as much about the property as they can from the seller before purchasing it. The disclosure documents can be made up of several forms that provide information about the property.The California...
Understanding when your landlord can raise the rent
Imagine your landlord coming to you on Friday and telling you that he or she has decided to raise your rent payment (which is due on Monday). This scenario is the nightmare shared by all renting tenants in Santa Cruz, and one that several of the clients that we here...
Detailing the different types of deeds
Most people in Santa Cruz may believe that the issue of trasnferring the title of a property only comes up when said property is listed for sale. While that may be the most common reason for a title transfer, it is by no means the only one. Some may want to transfer...
How an eviction affects your credit rating
A rental agreement is a legally binding document, wherein you the tenant are agreeing to your landlord’s terms. However, if you do not uphold your end of the arrangement, your landlord can evict you. Evictions can happen when tenants fail to pay rent, do not obey...
Dealing with boundary disputes
Border disputes can happen when neighbors do not have a clear understanding of where their property boundaries are. In most cases, the dispute is caused by encroachment.When your neighbor builds a new garage that crosses the property line, the structure is encroaching...