Lease Concessions Lease concessions are the financial incentives, lease terms, and conditions that a landlord may use as incentives to move a prospective or existing tenant forward at rent-up or renewal to initiate or renew a lease agreement. Lease concessions may also be called rent concessions, landlord concessions, or tenant inducements. A lease concession is […]

An employer’s practice of at-will employment is an employment agreement between employer and employee that may be terminated by either employer or employee at any time without notice and without any reason (cause). Unless there is specific company documentation, oral or written, that the company policy is employee termination for cause, the law presumes that […]

A purchase offer contract should protect the interests of a buyer by including adequate contingency clauses for seller disclosures and property inspections. The seller should be required to provide copies of all relevant documentation related to all issues that are material factors in a buyer’s decision of whether to own the property for the price […]

The most common way to provide tenants with notice of a change of ownership is for the seller to confirm in writing at close of escrow that a transfer of ownership has been completed. The notice should provide the buyer’s name or entity, contact information, and any other information that the buyer wishes to provide. […]

In real estate, a right of first refusal agreement allows a buyer and seller to enter into an arrangement by which the potential buyer is given first opportunity to purchase a property before the seller considers any other offers. The right of first refusal can be a complex matter with contingency issues, such as deadlines, […]

Is a landlord liable when a tenant’s dog bites someone? The concern about landlord liability for injury to persons caused by a tenant’s dog often underlies a landlord’s decision whether to allow pets on the rental property. A landlord does have a valid concern about dog bite liability. The number of dog bite claims increases […]

A warning notice, oral or written, may be appropriate for a tenant’s first time violation of a lease term or condition that is not a material default of the lease or a potential threat to neighbors or property. A tenant whose previous behaviors have never been a problem may be responsive to an oral request […]

A landlord will need to research state landlord-tenant statutes and local city and county ordinances specific to the location of the rental property to determine whether air conditioning must be provided by law. States and local jurisdictions may address the issue differently depending upon whether air conditioning is considered an essential service required by the […]

A visual inspection of the rental property exterior and interior spaces is one of the most effective ways to detect a moisture problem and/or the presence of mold. Although visual signs of mold are not always obvious, the musty smell of mold is another way to discover moisture problems. Mold can grow on the hidden […]

A landlord’s business decision to allow pets on rental premises is an individualized assessment of potential risk of property damage and increased risk of liability for injuries caused by pet behaviors. Pet behaviors, such as chewing, scratching, and marking interior surfaces like carpets, flooring, and woodwork can cause serious property damage. Exterior landscaping can be […]