Some California property owners cannot obtain or keep traditional property insurance because of wildfire risk. The California FAIR Plan offers a basic option when the traditional market does not. Its protection differs from a full homeowners or commercial property policy. The FAIR Plan’s standard residential policy covers named perils, mainly fire. It does not include… Read more »
One California parcel can answer to two separate sets of rules. Local zoning, adopted by a city or county, regulates how land may be used and built. A recorded restrictive covenant, created by private parties, can limit the same land in different ways. That creates a common question in restrictive covenants vs zoning California disputes:… Read more »
California investors can hold real estate through more than one ownership structure, and an LLC is not the only option. A partnership, individual ownership, or another entity can all serve different purposes. Each structure affects who owns the property, who controls decisions, how investors share responsibilities, and how disagreements are resolved. Choosing between an LLC… Read more »
California’s anti-price-gouging law can limit how much landlords charge for rental housing after certain emergency declarations. The rules can apply to existing rentals, vacant units, and other rental situations covered by California Penal Code section 396. The law generally limits covered rent increases to 10 percent, but the calculation depends on the property’s rental history… Read more »
A fence running along the back of two properties looks like it marks the line between them. In many cases, it does. But a fence’s physical position is not the same as the legal property boundary. Fences shift over time, get replaced at different locations, or were built on assumptions that a survey later proves… Read more »
A commercial lease creates a legal relationship between a property owner and a business tenant that is fundamentally different from a residential rental. California’s residential landlord-tenant protections, including the Tenant Protection Act’s rent caps, the implied warranty of habitability, and the mandatory entry-notice rules, do not automatically apply to commercial properties. Instead, the rights and… Read more »
Renting residential property in California comes with a defined set of rights and legal obligations. Property owners have meaningful protections under California law, including the right to collect rent, enforce lease terms, and recover possession through a lawful process. At the same time, California gives tenants significant protections that landlords must understand and follow. The… Read more »
A neighbor claims your fence sits on their land. A sibling challenges your ownership of inherited property. A deceased former owner’s name still appears in the title records. An old deed conflicts with how the property has been used for decades. Each situation can create uncertainty about who holds what legal interest in real property…. Read more »
A neighbor begins clearing land near your property line, and you believe the work is about to cross onto your property. A utility company shows up to install infrastructure you believe goes beyond what its easement allows. Someone has started using your private road without permission, and they show no sign of stopping. In each… Read more »
A government easement on private land does not transfer ownership. The property owner retains the underlying fee title. The government acquires only a limited right to use the land for a defined purpose. That distinction has real consequences. A property owner whose land is burdened by a government easement still owns the land. They may… Read more »
