Unlawful Detainer
The one notice mistake that restarts your eviction
A miscounted deadline or a wrong dollar amount can void your notice entirely. Here’s how to get the 3-day notice right the first time.
Landlord Resources
Plain-English guides for property owners.
Practical guidance on evictions, rent control, and California landlord law — written for owners, not lawyers.
Owner Move-In
Just bought a tenant-occupied home? Read this first
New buyers can pursue an owner move-in — but only with exact notice periods and, in some cities, relocation payments. A step-by-step for new owners.
Security Deposits
The 21-day deposit deadline — and the penalties for missing it
California gives you 21 days to return a deposit with an itemized statement. Miss it and a tenant can pursue penalties well beyond the deposit itself.
Rent Board
Responding to a San Francisco Rent Board petition
A tenant petition has its own rules, deadlines, and hearings — separate from the courts. What owners should do in the first week after being served.
Squatter Evictions
Squatter or tenant? Why you can’t just change the locks
Self-help removal is illegal in California and can expose you to liability. How to tell a trespasser from a tenancy — and the right way to regain possession.
Lease Drafting
Five clauses every California lease should have in 2026
Most landlord disputes trace back to a weak lease. The addenda and disclosures that protect owners before a problem ever starts.
Rent Control
Serving a rent-increase notice in Oakland
Oakland now requires specific attachments with any increase. Here’s what a valid increase package looks like.
Representation
What a landlord-representation attorney actually does
Tenants stop paying. Notices get ignored. Here’s what a landlord-focused attorney actually does — and why it matters.
Property Managers
Legal support for property managers: when to call
Most managers handle issues internally — until a small misstep creates a big delay. Here are the moments that matter most.
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