Landlord/Tenant Lawyers
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Landlord/Tenant Lawyers
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
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
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
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.
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