Landlord/Tenant Lawyers

Parent Q&A

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Lawyer for Landlord- Oakland
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Sep 10, 2024

Hi All- I rent my home in Oakland and need advice on a safety concern I have about my tenant. Could you recommend a lawyer who works with landlords? Thank you.

Sep 10, 2024

I am a property owner in Berkeley with a rental unit. Yes, there are multiple free legal services for tenants. For owners, please view the Berkeley Property Owners' Association. Any of the attorneys who advertise on their site could consult. The Alameda County Law Library also sponsors a monthly low-income landlord clinic. Good luck.

Sep 11, 2024
Pro bono lawyer for housing issue in San Pablo?
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Jul 31, 2024

Hi BPN, do you know of a lawyer who could advise pro bono or for a reduced fee on a housing issue in San Pablo? In short, our nanny’s sister’s apartment burned down and it seems like it was the owner’s fault. The owner initially said they would support her in finding a new apartment but now they are backing out, saying they can simply return her security deposit and aren’t providing any compensation for all of her items lost in the fire. She is going to try calling Bay Area Legal Aid, but do you happen to know of other resources where she could get advice / support with this? Thank you!

Jul 31, 2024

I think BALA is absolutely the right call and don't waste time looking for anywhere else. They do this every day.

Aug 2, 2024

BALA does primarily serve subsidized tenancies, not sure if that applies to this situation. Centro Legal de La Raza also covers Contra Costa County so I would try calling them too.

Aug 7, 2024

Hopefully she had renter’s insurance (something her landlord should have encouraged or insisted she do); her insurance company would battle it out with the owner’s insurance company I believe. I believe someone mentioned Bay Area Legal Aid; here is more information https://baylegal.org/get-help/find-an-office/contra-costa-county/
Best of luck.

Aug 7, 2024

Thanks so much everyone!

Aug 14, 2024
Lawyer recommendation for Landlord
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Oct 2, 2023

Hello, my family and I have been renting out our home in the East Bay for the last couple of years. Our current tenant has requested to sublease the house while they take an extended leave of absence. I'm looking for recommendations on a lawyer who can help us make sure that steps are taken to protect our rights if we allow this. I've done a fair amount of research but it seems that most lawyers specialize in tenant rights/evictions which I can imagine is a much bigger issue. I'm looking for one that also works with landlords to make sure things are done correctly before any issues come up.

Oct 2, 2023

If you’re not members of BPOA yet, I’d definitely join. They will help you, and also have attorney recommendations. Best of luck.

Oct 4, 2023

You are prudent to talk to a lawyer. As you know our city supports the tenants with several free legal services, including the Rent Board which frowns on assisting property owners. Please call one or more of the lawyers listed on the website of the Berkeley Property Owners Assn. They understand the risks of being a property owner in Berkeley.

Oct 4, 2023
Tenants' rights consult / legal help regarding rodent issues
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Jan 19, 2023

We're dealing with ongoing rodent infestation issues in our rental, and would like to consult with someone who can advise us on our rights and our ability to end our lease early. Not sure if this would be a real estate attorney, some type of non-profit, or somebody else, but any referrals or suggestions would be welcome. This is a higher-end rental and we'd like to get our proof and paperwork or whatever else is needed in order to exit the lease early and gracefully, without impacting our credit, if we need to. We are in Contra Costa county.

Jan 19, 2023

A good tenant lawyer is the way to go. We had a lead paint problem a few years ago when we rented an old Victorian. The new corporate owners hired workers to sandblast layers of lead paint off the siding and the dust was flying everywhere and the workers didn't care and did no clean up, all that stuff was just landing on the grass where our baby played and crawled around. We wanted out of our lease and hired Jeffrey Carter, a tenant rights attorney in Berkeley. His number is 510 548 4774. He's probably in his 60 or 70's, I just googled and it seems like he's still working. His fee was very modest, I think a couple hundred dollars. We had an in person consult with him to explain our problem, showed him photos of what was happening, emails and texts that we went to ask that they take care of the mess, and he took over from there. He sent the owners a letter on our behalf and notified them of our intention to move due to (fancy lawyer words...) unsafe conditions and cited laws and stuff, and let them know that our deposit can be mail to his office (so that the new owners wouldn't know where we moved to). And of course he put in there that all communications regarding this matter should now be handled through him. We got our deposit back, no fuss, totally worth it. Once a landlord sees that you're serious about a problem and have sunk money into solving it instead of just complaining, they're going to take it seriously too, and it's often a better financial decision to cut you loose than drag it out. Good luck.

Jan 25, 2023
Seeking lawyer for legal advice for owner move-in eviction
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Jun 15, 2022

Can anyone recommend a lawyer to walk us through the owner move-in eviction process for our ADU? Our family is expanding and need the extra space to accommodate helping hands from extended families and/or an au pair. Thank you.

Jun 15, 2022

Hi, I would check with BPOA, Berkeley Property Owners Association. Super helpful organization to join for many reasons, including their advice on this as well as attorney recommendations.

Jun 22, 2022

I am a veteran survivor of rent board battles, and although I am an attorney, I wish I had not been so overconfident that I could handle tenant matters by myself. i would heartily advise calling one of the attorneys listed through the Berkeley Property Owners' Association.

Jun 22, 2022

I used Fried and Williams for a really difficult tenant situation last year. It was not an owner move-in, I was evicting a roommate, but they really know their stuff. they aren’t cheap but got the job done. One Important thing to know is that if your ADU is not illegally permitted residence it could be virtually impossible to evict them, And even if it is a legally permitted residence you will likely need to pay them a lot of money to move out.

Jun 24, 2022
Need a tenants rights attorney
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Feb 8, 2022

Hi -

It seems like our landlords are trying to get us to move out of our rental. Need a tenants rights attorney who is familiar with Oakland and single family rentals. Thanks.

Feb 8, 2022

You likely don't need to pay an attorney - there are a myriad of tenant's rights organizations that can assist you for free. Start with the Oakland Tenants Union or the East Bay Rental Housing Association for help.

Feb 9, 2022
Bought a home, squatter help
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May 19, 2021
My husband and I just bought a home in Berkeley. The seller's stepdaughter (probably in her 50's) has lived in the home for years and is refusing to move out. She does not have a lease or estoppel or any other type of written document and does not pay any rent or utilities. She was offered a buyout a few times (other potential buyers) when the home was on the market, accepted the offer, and then refused to leave when the time came to exit the property. The seller and stepdaughter have an estranged relationship. Given this information, we are struggling with next steps.

Should we hire an attorney to advise us? Any recommendations on attorneys who can help us navigate this?

Should we attempt to talk to her first before even talking to an attorney?

Is she legally even considered a tenant? Is she a squatter?

Has anyone been through a similar situation and can offer some advice/insight?

The seller is asking that we transfer all utilities under our name. We would like to shut off all utilities because we are not planning on moving in immediately. We are planning a large renovation and in the process of getting contractors/architects to come out to the property. I'm not even sure if this is possible if she is still living there.

Thank you!

May 19, 2021
Uh.... don't close escrow until the premises are vacant, locks changed with evidence of that provided by the seller!

May 21, 2021

We are going through this right now with two of our homes (and no, we are not career landlords - we have just moved a lot and didn't have time or energy to sell homes).

If at all possible, don't close until all tenants have left. We just moved to a new area where there are many new people buying up homes and probably half of them are facing a similar situation. For some buyers, with the timing of the pandemic and relief, it can turn ugly.

First off, you're probably going to need to get a lawyer involved. My sister is a real estate agent and attorney; she couldn't even help us. We had to suck it up and pay $7-$10K to get an attorney, for each respective house/situation (two different states). Keep in mind right now through June 30 ( I don't believe it's been extended as of yet), there's a moratorium in place where renters do not have to leave (or pay rent) until then. In the event that the moratorium doesn't get extended, you're still going to have a legal issue on your hands. Why? Because it's very pro-tenant rights at this time. Be prepared for this and a 6 to 12 month battle to get the tenant out. I am all about tenant's rights, and I know many have come upon hard times. The problem is, there's many tenants taking advantage of the situation (one of ours just paid cash for their Tesla but they somehow can't come up with any rent money to pay us since last April).

The common suggestion we received is to cut off the electricity. It seems like your situation could have a good argument for this. As in you don't need to move in right away and you're doing renovations. But be careful. We know a lot of friends/colleagues who have recently gone down this road and it usually ends up in court and the tenant wins. I AM NOT GIVING LEGAL ADVICE; I am just letting you know that you're not the only one going through this (it can seem very lonely and frustrating) and that at this time, cross every "T" and dot every "i." Be ready for 6-12 months of frustration. I would say don't do this alone because again, it might end up in court. Change the locks in the meantime. It won't solve the problem but it can help.

May 26, 2021

You definitely need a lawyer. Your agent/broker should be helping you on this.

May 26, 2021

Get an attorney familiar with tenant/landlord laws ASAP! You can probably do a Ellis Act eviction. The eviction process will be very complicated and time consuming. Should not have closed escrow until property was vacant.

May 26, 2021

Yikes. Given Berkeley's rent control laws this is a potentially nightmare scenario. Absolutely DO NOT CLOSE ESCROW until the house is empty and you have keys to the house with locks changed. If you have already closed, consult an attorney familiar with Berkeley's rent control laws immediately. Unless the attorney says I must, I would absolutely not put any utilities in my name until the step-daughter has left the premises.

May 26, 2021

I own a few rental properties in other states, so am not familiar with California norms, but personally yes, I would 100% hire an attorney right away and work through them. Everything you describe points to the fact that this person isn't going to move out of their own volition. These situations can take a long time to resolve, even in more "landlord friendly" states, so I think it makes perfect sense to engage an attorney ASAP.

May 26, 2021

When we had a similar issue in Berkeley the realtor arranged for the Alameda County Sheriff to be present when the locks were changed. Thankfully the "squatter" was not there at the time and never returned.

May 26, 2021

My 2 cents: I would talk with her first to see exactly where things stand. Then, I definitely advise getting an attorney; this being Berkeley she is in all likelihood a tenant with eviction protections (see https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Rent_Stabilization_Board/Home/Owner_Move-Ins_Explanation_of_Owner_s_Obligations.aspx). And let’s say for a moment she’s not a tenant, it sounds like you need help in any case getting her to leave the property. I believe BPOA has referrals for attorneys that work on landlord issues. Best of luck.

May 26, 2021

She is an "occupant" not a tenant. Clearly she has no legal rights to be there. It is suprising that the escrow is not contingent upon the delivery of an empty house.Any of the attorneys listed on the Berkeley Property Owners website could address this issue. Sorry you must incur more fees and expenses.

May 26, 2021

We went through an amicable owner move-in situation in Oakland with a house that had renters in it a few years ago, and while the process turned out well for us, it still felt tricky to navigate the situation.

Have you closed? If not, I would seriously reconsider the property or negotiating with the seller to put it on her to get the stepdaughter to move before you close.

If you have closed, I would hire a good lawyer immediately, one who is well versed in tenant-renter laws in Berkeley. (Ours actually advised us not to buy our home because it was complicated, but we persisted and it all worked out.)

Our lawyer advised us to do all communications through them. You have to be careful on this one. I don't think you can talk to the stepdaughter directly, unfortunately. If you really want to, get advice from your lawyer first on what you can and cannot say.

If she has been living there, she unfortunately is likely to be considered a tenant with tenant's rights. There are certain tenant protections that also protect older renters, so you should definitely check with a good lawyer on how to proceed next.

Best of luck! This is a tricky situation but one that can be navigated with good legal advice.

May 26, 2021

That is too bad. For sure you need need a lawyer that deals with eviction issues. Rent Control is super hard on owners this days... It is true that you can offer her " cash for keys". It is a pretty unfair situation, it should have been address before you closed on the purchased at least an agreement...

Good luck!

May 26, 2021

She isn't a squatter, she is a hold-over tenant and has all of the rights of a tenant whether she pays rent or not. Therefore, don't shut off utilities while she is still there. You definitely need to consult with a landlord tenant attorney. It sounds like you have already closed escrow? If so you bought the property subject to her tenancy. If you haven't closed maybe it is not too late to negotiate that you get a credit from the seller to cover your legal fees to evict her because it sounds like it is going to come to that.

May 26, 2021

This should all have been in the disclosure. If the sale is not completed, consider backing out.

If it's completed, an attorney is your best path forward. Do not do anything until you engage an attorney - don't talk to her until you talk to an attorney, who will coach you on how to communicate. You'll have to strictly follow their advice to make sure you're doing everything legally.

There's likely a very long road ahead, even if everything is in your favor. We had friends in a different but similar situation and it took years to resolve. In their case, there were mental health issues involved too.

May 26, 2021

wow - yes, hire an attorney, perhaps call the police to evict the squatter. And, yes, turn off the utilities, including water. And if none of this spurs her to leave, it's time to get nasty.

May 26, 2021

doable. but run, don't walk to an attorney. this should not even be a question. do you question using a dentist for root canal? get a competent attorney and let them handle this and do it before you say one word to this woman. that's a crazy slippery slope you don't want to touch with a ten food well intended pole. best of luck!

May 26, 2021

It sounds like op already closed on the house so they are past the point of making it a condition with escrow. Yes, you are going to have to hire a lawyer and I guarantee its going to take more time, money and energy than you would have liked. That is why the other buyers fell through. And why presumably you were able to buy the house at a discount. Now you can put that money towards contractors and legal fees. Hopefully you negotiated a good price with the seller so that all these costs don’t exceed the house’s market value.

I would not take any action on the house or with this woman without first specifically clearing your plan with a lawyer. Its probably fine to put the utilities in your name but not to shut them off though I wouldn’t assume the seller is giving you good advice (they already sold you a house that is adversely possessed by their estranged family member!). No one here can tell you what property rights this woman has even if they had a similar situation, even in Berkeley. This totally fact-specific and will largely depend on the woman’s claims/ defenses. Quite frankly, its a quagmire.

May 26, 2021
Request for Lawyer referral on tenant side- Mold Issue in piedmont
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Nov 9, 2017

Hello

I'm looking for a referral for a tenant lawyer regarding a mold issue in our rental.

I checked the archives and the referrals were old- and some numbers had been disconnected.

I would be happy to go with a big firm or a solo practice.

We moved in - and the landlord won't make simple repairs- such a cleaning the gutters. We tested for mold, and there is mold everywhere. We want to get our deposit back.

The landlord is in denial-- We showed them pictures of holes in the gutters and water leaking down the wall into the garage . He states that the mold smell could not possibly be from the rusted out gutters. Presumably it took years to rust and there has been years of leaking down the wall. He will not replace the gutter with clear water intrusion into the wall. I'm guessing his next step is to blame us. He would not clean any of the house gutters, even though we have photos that they are clogged and the gutter company says they are rusted,

We have only lived here for 2 months-- so pretty sure we did not cause the gutters to rust. I have been paying out of pocket to get them cleaned and other basic maintenance. Given the current approach of avoidance, or suggesting that "I'm just confused", that I need to have a lawyer in my court.

Emotionally, I need someone to handle this because the landlord is running me in circles.

Any current recommendations? Preference focus only on real estate and only on the tenant side if possible.

Thanks,

Nov 9, 2017

Not sure if you already found one yet. Try David Simon at Simon Law (he has a couple of offices between SF to Walnut Creek). He represented us against my HOA (Piedmont Ave area). Here is his website: http://www.simonlaw.com/About/David-Simon.shtml

Good Luck!!

Nov 15, 2017
Urgent Need of Housing Tenants Rights Attorney for Single Parent (Pro Bono if possible)
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Jul 5, 2016

Urgent Need of Housing Tenants Rights Attorney for Single Parent (Pro Bono if possible)

to stop eviction and deal with the City of Oakland

Please email br.housing [at] yahoo.com

Jul 5, 2016

Hopefully you will get some responses with referrals. My suggestion is first to call the Alameda County Bar Association. They have programs for referring people to attorneys with reduced rates especially for lower income clients. Second, start googling tenants/housing rights attorneys in your area, and just start calling. Tell them a recap of your story, tell them what you need, tell them you need someone who can consider taking your case pro bono or at a reduced rate. If they are willing to consider it, or even if it seems like they are interested in your case, meet for a consultation. All attorneys do pro bono work at some point. If an attorney you speak to can't help you or take you on at a rate you can afford, ask them to please refer you to a colleague who might be able to help. Keep trying -- you will find someone this way. It will take some time and work but it is possible (been there, when I needed a family law attorney years ago but couldn't afford full rates). Dealing with eviction and housing rights is tricky, and I think you are smart to want to find counsel to help you. Good luck.

Jul 10, 2016

I cannot find the original post, but if you are very low income you can try Bay Area Legal Aid, which generally serves people with extremely low incomes- around 150% of the federal poverty level (around $40K for a family of 4.) Good luck!

Jul 13, 2016

RE:

Eviction of sibling in their 50s - what to do (Sep 30, 2023)

You should talk to a lawyer about how best to handle this. Housing issues are so complicated, especially combined w/ disability or age!

Oct 4, 2023

Recommended:

Trouble Between Adult Siblings,

Landlord/Tenant Lawyers

Archived Q&A and Reviews

Seeking an attorney in the E Bay for tenant abuse

Sept 2013

Hello, I am writing this message for a friend who's in a bad housing situation. She and her partner live in an apartment in Oakland and there are only three units in the building. The landlady has been abusive and and physically violent as well as making horrific noise above them to punish them. They have had to call the police. They looked for low cost legal help and could find no one to help them. Since their building only has three units, Just Cause could be of no help to them. They don't have a lot of money for an attorney and one of them is permanently disabled. I know it's a long shot, but does anyone out there know of an attorney who handles tenant/landlord cases that might work in some sort of non-profit setting. I believe that they have a strong case. They have kept records of everything. If anyone knows of anyone out there who could help or might know of some referrals, that would be so appreciated. anonymous

Berkeley's Rent Stabilization Board has a website with a lot of helpful links: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/Rent_Stabilization_Board/Home/Info__Landlord- Tenant_Local_Resources.aspx

This includes contact info for the East Bay Community Law Center, Eviction Defense Center, Tenants Together, and Bay Area Legal Aid. Also, mediation services such as: SEEDS Community Resolution Center, and the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board (could give references/suggestions if their jurisdiction doesn't include Oakland).

Legal: Lawyers in the Library - Berkeley Public Library, Alameda County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, Alameda County Bar Association Volunteer Legal Services Program, California Department of Fair Employment and Housing Best of luck, A Berkeley apartment manager

Call Bay Area Legal Aid. They have offices in Richmond, Oakland and other Bay Area cities. They can definitely help or put you in the right direction. Anonymous

Hello, I feel terrible for your friends - that sounds like an awful position to be in as tenants. I recommend that they contact Michael Bracamontes at Bracamontes & Vlasak. This law firm is located in San Francisco, but Michael is very familiar with tenants rights in all of the east bay cities (he went to law school at UC Berkeley). The attorneys at B are really excellent at what they do. Also, in many cases firms that handle tenants rights issues do not require upfront payment, but rather work on a contingency basis, so your friends' lack of funds should not be an issue. BV Law: 415-835-6777 anon

Phone or call the Tobener Law Center in San Francisco (though I believe they have an office in Oakland). They have helped me and other who have been in similar situations. Talk with them I am sure they will do their best to try and work within the constraints of their situation. Their website is http://www.tobenerlaw.com and their phone number is 510-250-5635 Best of luck. Anon

Tenant Lawyer to help get out of lease

July 2013

The rental house my family moved into in March is infested with rat mites. All of us who live here, me, my 2 year old, and my husband are being bitten regularly. The bites are extremely itchy and last for several days. I have had several pest controllers out and they all agree that keeping rats out of the crawl space and attic will be costly and very difficult due to the type of foundation and roof tiles on this house. I'm also 8 months pregnant and don't want to subject my newborn to itchy bites especially since they are coming from potentially diseased rats. I'm planning a home birth and am not excited about giving birth among the invisible mites either. Does anyone have a recommendation for a tenant lawyer that could help us get out of our lease? I'm due at the end of July and feel like I'm running out of time to allow my landlord to resolve the issue. JC

I cannot recommend the Tobener Law Center enough, they specialized in these matters. They are a law firm that does not seem like a law firm. They are personable and their rates were reasonable. You can contact them through their website. They have done wonders for me in the past. http://www.tobenerlaw.com Best of luck. Anon

Yuckkkk!!! Frightening!!! If you have already asked that ''landlord'' to release you from your lease and that ''landlord'' has refused, I'm SHOCKED and saddened!!! Run - do not walk - call local city (where you live) and county health inspectors ASAP! Call your local ''rent board,'' if there is a ''rent board'' in your city. Show health officials photographic evidence of these bites, welts, whatever, and show health inspectors reports from California-licensed pest control exterminators, and MOVE!!! The State of California health code requires housing be ''habitable''! Bug infested homes are not LEGALLY ''habitable''!!! Careful Property Owner

In need of a Tenant Lawyer

Jan 2013

Can anyone recommend a tenant rights attorney in Berkeley? Thank you. Eric EM

Jean Shrem is a local mom, attorney, and real estate broker. She can help you with landlord and tenant issues. 510-882-9992, Jean [at] ShremLaw.com . . SP in Berkeley

Andrew Wolfe. In downtown Oakland should be fine for a Berkeley case. He handled my case expertly. Best of luck. Anon

Call Joe Tobener in San Francisco. I believe he also has an office in Oakland. He helped me out with my landlord who was not making repairs in Albany, and he helped a group of my friends who were wrongfully evicted from a place in San Francisco. Joe was up front, caring, and did not come across as your typical lawyer. He has a lot of information on his site: http:// www.tobenerlaw.com/ Best of luck. Rebecca

Lawyer for renters rights protection in Oakland

Aug 2010

We sold our house very quickly and had to find a month-to- month rental in a very short period while looking for our next home. We ended up renting in Oakland from a woman we now believe is not paying property taxes and is forging our signatures and falsifying information to her bank saying we are living together as roommates. She will not provide an address to forward mail, and enters the home without our consent. She is very threatening and texts me threats that if we do not find ways to help her get her loan refinanced then she will change the locks. We have small children and find her behavior very disturbing.

We paid 2 months deposit and first and last months rent totalling over $15,000 - even though we knew the longest we would occupy the home would be 6 months. We want to ensure we get our deposits back and are very worried since she appears to be insolvent. Does anyone have any recommendations for a renters rights attorney? She had promised us that we would receive the deposits in full after our walk-through, but now is trying to say she never agreed to that and lost the signed copies of our initial lease. Any recommendations on how to protect ourselves will be appreciated, as we are planning to move within the next month. Heather

I highly recommend Toni Mims-Cochran. She has been a tenant attorney in Oakland for 13 years. She represents tenants in unlawful detainer actions (evictions), wrongful evictions, lawsuits against the landlord who fail to maintain their properties in a habitable condition. She also represents tenants who are being evicted from forceclosed properties. She has an excellent reputation in the landlord/tenant community. Her info is as follows: Law Offices of Toni Mims-Cochran 1814 Franklin Street, Suite 907 Oakland, CA 94612 510-465-3210 www.tmimslaw.com
LaJoyce

Need to understand my rights as a tenant

June 2008

I'm looking for an attorney who can help me understand my rights as a tenant regarding landlord/tenant boundaries. I rent a house in Oakland with my two children and my landlord lives downstairs. She is entering my unit when I'm not there, telling my kids to do things for her, stopping the mail without my knowledge, etc. I spoke to my landlord regarding the about. She agreed not to do them but over time, she forgets. To help her remember, I put it in writing which made things worst. She got upset and told me, ''itbon the network are from 1999.s MY house!'' I want my landlord to know that she is my landlord and nothing more. She is not a family member or friend. Or am I being too hard on her? Does anyone know of an attorney who deals with landlord/tenant boundaries? Thank you

Hi there, My husband is a property attorney and stated that your landlord is in the wrong, but that it probably wouldn't make sense for you to pay his firm $275/hr to take the case and suggested you start with the below resource: http://www.oaklandnet.com/government/hcd/rentboard/index.html Best of luck.

Check out Nolo.com or go to your library and look for their book, California Tenant's Rights. It should tell you everything you need to know and how to handle it for much less than a lawyer. Cris

2004 - 2007 Recommendations

Need help dealing with my landlord

Nov 2006

My housemates and I are looking for help dealing with our landlord. We've had a difficult time getting the most basic repairs made (leaking roof, rotting deck, etc.). We'd like to find a lawyer or other person or organization that specializes in tenant/landlord issues. We live in Oakland, so it would need to be someone that is familiar with tenant rights in Oakland. Thanks for any suggestions Diane

It was several years ago, but I had a wonderful experience with Andy Cohn in Berkeley. I went to him as a landlord, but I know he also represents tenants, and has worked several cases in Oakland. I went to him because I had very difficult tenants that had violated their lease, and when confronted, not only denied the infractions, but made threatening remarks to me. I was very impressed with how skillfully Andy defused the situation, and was able to negotiate an outcome that everyone accepted - without having to go to court. I always felt that Andy had my best interests at heart, while also being fair to my tenants.

His contact information is: Andrew S. Cohn 1942 University Ave, Suite 206 Berkeley, CA 94704-1024 510-841-4796

Also, have you looked into tenants-rights organizations? I had a friend that worked for one in San Francisco that offered free legal services to tenants - there may be a similar organization in Oakland -former landlord, not the evil kind

I don't have any attorney referrals but wonder if you have tried contacting a City housing inspector. In Berkeley, if your landlord refuses to fix serious problems with the unit's condition, you can request a City housing inspection. If the landlord is cited for housing code violations, the landlord must correct the violations and face fines if s/he does not. There is probably a similar process in Oakland. Try contacting the Code Compliance Division of the City of Oakland's Community & Economic Development Agency (CEDA). Start at the main webpage, http://www.oaklandnet.com. Under State law, tenants have a ''repair and deduct'' remedy, found in Civil Code section 1942. It is quite specific and certain procedures must be followed. You can find the text of this section at www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/rent/OrdRegs/civ1942.html Good luck Anon

Attorney who specializes in landlord / tenant disputes

July 2004

Hello - I am looking for updated recommendations on attorneys specializing in landlord / tenant disputes. Thanks for your help! Jane

There is a law firm in Oakland called Fitzgerald Abbott & Beardsley and they do landlord/tenant disputes. It's a very well-respected firm with great attorneys. They've been around for a million years
av

Your message doesn't specify whether you are a landlord or tenant. Many attorneys specialize in one side or the other. If you are a tenant having a problem with your landlord, I suggest you call Robert DeVries at (415) 546-5100. He is very experienced in tenant representation. Ann

I'd highly recommend Jeffrey Carter in downtown Berkeley for landlord/tenant disputes. His office number is 510-548-4774.

Here are some recommendations for landlord/tenant matters:
Stewart Schwartz - 510-548-8585 - Does property owner disputes and may do landlord/tenant disputes Zona Sage - 510-420-1410 - does tenant side - usually big cases Leah Hess - 510-451-3103 - tenant side Sally Elkington - 510-601-0404 - tenant side Ron Wong - 510841-9664 - landlord side
Amy

I recommend Michael St. John. He's actually a mediator, not a lawyer but he was very helpful to us in negotiating a tenant/landlord problem. He took a measured, realistic, ''win- win'' approach. We ended up paying our tenant to vacate. She got a good chunk of money and we got to move into the unit. I think everyone was satisfied. He's a long-time Berkeley resident and very knowledgeable about rent control. Phone number for St. John Associates is 510 845-8928 happy dweller

2003 & Earlier

Lawyer for Berkeley eviction

August 1999

Would like referrals to lawyers experienced in assisting with renter's rights in Berkeley (specifically eviction).

I hope you have been to the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board. There are very specific just causes for eviction in Berkeley, and the rent board can determine if the causes apply in your case. The number of evictions in Berkeley has *tripled this year because of the new vacancy decontrol regulation! Becky

I'd like to recommend Bill Simpich 444-0226 in Oakland. I used him for a lawsuit against a landlord and settled to my satisfaction. He is a great negotiater. He often seems to be very busy but, in the end, worth it I found.

Another good tenant attorney is Sally Elkington on Telegraph in Berkeley, located next to Mama Bears. Her number is 601-0404. Good luck. Dylyn

My husband, Timothy Rumberger, is an excellent tenant's rights attorney with ten years experience practicing in Berkeley. He is always busy, but I know he would be willing to discuss any questions you may have about your eviction or any affirmative claims you may have against your landlord. It may take him a while to get back to you just now. We have a two-month old and we're still not getting much sleep. His number is 510-841-5500 and his office is at Center & Shattuck in Downtown Berkeley.

Berkeley Community Law Center works with tenants who qualify for free services due to income. I am sure that they can rec. a good lawyer if your income disqualifies you from receiving free services. The berkeley rent board may also be able to rec. a good lawyer. Jeremiah

I would also like to recommend a very good, experienced tenants' rights attorney, Phil Rapier (who's also a very nice person). His number is 510-444-6262. He graduated from Boalt Law School in 1983. He may, however, be on vacation right now. Karen

There's only one who is the best and most reasonably priced: for 30 years everyone knows that's Jeff Carter in Berkeley. I founded the Berkeley Tenants Union and I've known him since '69. I get no benefit from this rec. He's just the sweetest and smartest guy. I won't even tell him I posted this. We're friends because of our parenting.