About Properties West

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San Pedro, CA, United States
At Properties West our team of professionals realizes that just as every property is unique so is the objective of every owner. Since our inception in 1981, we have been an industry leader in the management of residential homes, apartment buildings and condominiums. Please take a moment to review the time and money saving services we offer which provide the utmost in property management.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Q and A with Prop West: Rent Control

Q) What is the 2009 allowable rent increase for properties under rent control?

A) The permitted rent increase for July 1, 2009 has been raised to 4% of the existing rent. You can also collect 1% per utility paid other than water.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Q) ... I just purchased a non-rent control apartment building. can I ask my tenants to sign a new house rules and if they refuse, do I have any course of action? Secondly, what is the difference between a 30-day notice and a 60-day notice to vacate?

A) If the tenants are on a month-to-month tenancy, you can merely serve a "Change of Terms" notice on your tenant, which will institute these rules. You would need to give a 30-days advanced notice. After the thirty days, the rules will become part of this tenant's tenancy. You also can serve a notice to terminate the tenancy. If the tenant has been in the unit one year or longer, you would need to serve a 60-day notice to quit. Otherwise, you can serve a 30-day notice.

(taken from Apartment Owners association News, March 09)

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Q and A with Prop West

Q) I have a tenant who has been renting from me for seven years. They are now moving out. Can I charge them anything for new carpet?

A) From a security deposit you are allowed to deduct for unusual wear and tear to the unit. In this case, the carpeting was at least seven years old. Seven years would seem to be the usual life of carpeting and therefore I do not believe that you can deduct this from the security deposit.

(taken from Apartment Owners Association News, May 2009)

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Q and A with Prop West

Q) I have a family who served me a notice to move with less than the required time by approximately seven days. Can I withhold any part of the security deposit for not giving the required 30-day notice? Thirty days advanced notice is required in the rental agreement.

A) A tenant terminating his month-to-month tenancy must serve a 30-day written notice. For the record, emails do not constitute a proper notice. The tenant is therefore liable for the rent for the full 30-day period. As such, you may deduct the additional rent from the security deposit.