If you’ve ever heard someone say, “Just evict them,” this story is the reality check. A Southern California landlord spent years trying to regain control of a Santa Monica apartment after an unauthorized occupant moved in, stopped paying, and then used every delay tactic imaginable—motions, mediation demands, perjury, emergency filings, and even attempted break-ins after the lockout. This case was described by the landlord’s attorney as the worst “professional tenant” situation of his career: … [Read more...] about Landlord Horror Story: The “Professional Tenant” Who Ran Up $100,000+ in Unpaid Rent—and Used the System to Stay for Years
Broken Window: Landlord Or Tenant?
A window breaks and everyone immediately points fingers. The tenant says: “This is a habitability issue, you have to fix it.” The landlord says: “You broke it, you pay.” Sometimes it’s obvious (a baseball through the glass). Other times it’s not (an old frame, a cracked pane, a storm, a stuck sash that finally snaps). The truth is: responsibility usually depends on cause. Most landlord-tenant laws treat windows as part of the property’s structure and weatherproofing, which landlords must … [Read more...] about Broken Window: Landlord Or Tenant?
Can A Landlord Raise Rent Mid-Lease?
A landlord gets hit with higher insurance premiums, higher property taxes, higher HOA fees, or a surprise repair bill—and the temptation is immediate: “I’m raising the rent now.” On the other side, tenants hear “rent increase” and assume it’s always illegal during a lease. Both sides are half right. Most of the time, a fixed-term lease locks in the rent for the full term. That’s the whole point of a lease: stability for the tenant, predictable income for the landlord. But there are … [Read more...] about Can A Landlord Raise Rent Mid-Lease?
Can A New Owner Change The Lease Or House Rules?
A rental property gets sold, and tenants immediately ask the same question: “Do we have to follow the new owner’s rules?” Meanwhile the new owner often has their own question: “Can I update the lease, raise standards, and run this property my way now?” This is one of the most misunderstood moments in landlord-tenant law. A sale changes who owns the building, but it usually does not erase the tenant’s existing lease rights overnight. In most cases, the new owner “steps into the shoes” of the … [Read more...] about Can A New Owner Change The Lease Or House Rules?
Can A Landlord Enter For An Appraisal Or Inspection Without Permission?
You’re refinancing, selling, renewing insurance, or dealing with a lender—and suddenly you need an appraisal or inspection. The appraiser wants access. The inspector wants photos. The lender wants it done this week. Then the tenant says: “No. You can’t come in.” This is where a lot of landlords get tripped up. Even if you own the property, a tenant-occupied unit is still the tenant’s home. In most states, you have a legal right to enter for legitimate reasons, but you usually cannot enter … [Read more...] about Can A Landlord Enter For An Appraisal Or Inspection Without Permission?
Can A Landlord Take Photos / Video For A Listing While The Tenant Lives There?
You’re getting ready to sell or re-rent a unit, and your agent says the obvious: “We need photos.” The problem is the unit is tenant-occupied. That means the listing photos won’t just capture walls and flooring—they can capture a tenant’s furniture, personal items, family photos, medications, mail, children’s rooms, and the layout of their home. This is where landlords get into trouble. Even if you have a legal right to enter for showings, photography and video are a higher privacy intrusion … [Read more...] about Can A Landlord Take Photos / Video For A Listing While The Tenant Lives There?
Can A Landlord Hold An Open House With A Tenant Living There?
You want to sell the property (or re-rent it fast). Your agent suggests an open house. Then reality hits: there’s a tenant living there, with furniture, personal belongings, and a normal life happening inside the unit. Now you’re stuck between two competing truths: you have a legitimate business reason to market the property, and the tenant has strong rights to privacy and quiet enjoyment. So can a landlord hold an open house with a tenant living there? Sometimes, yes—but it’s one of the … [Read more...] about Can A Landlord Hold An Open House With A Tenant Living There?
Can A Tenant Refuse Showings? (What Landlords Can Do If They Block Access)
You list the property. You schedule showings. Then the tenant starts playing games: “I’m not available.” “I don’t feel comfortable.” “No, you can’t come in.” Or they say yes and then make it impossible—loud music, aggressive behavior, “accidentally” leaving the place filthy, or claiming they never got notice. Landlords run into this all the time, especially when a tenant is angry about a rent increase, a nonrenewal, a sale, or a repair dispute. The big question is simple: can a tenant legally … [Read more...] about Can A Tenant Refuse Showings? (What Landlords Can Do If They Block Access)
