You would be surprised how many landlords do not know the basics of the business. What do you do when you have no clue? The first thing is to get comfortable with rent control because chances are your rental unit is subject to it.
What is rent control?
Most people have a general understanding of rent control in San Francisco (known as the San Francisco Rent Ordinance). People tend to understand that a unit that is under rent control means that the rent can only be increased by a certain amount and that the amount of the increase is typically small. But the term “rent control” in San Francisco also is commonly used to describe the set of rules, called the Just Cause Ordinance, that controls when a landlord can evict a tenant.
Some properties are exempt from the rent increase limitations, but are still subject to the just cause eviction provisions. Before becoming a landlord, it is important to understand whether your rental property is subject to the San Francisco Rent Ordinance and if so, whether this means that your rent increases are limited or whether you have a limited ability to evict a tenant or both. How do you begin to figure this out?
The San Francisco Rent Board Website
If you’re going to be a landlord in San Francisco, you will be dealing with the San Francisco Rent Board. Before paying a lawyer for a consultation, take a look at the San Francisco Rent Board website. It is full of information and can answer most of your questions. The rent board offers counselors in person at their office. You can also call and have phone counseling. You’d be surprised how many landlords and real estate agents call me for advise and have never even thought of looking at the website, going to the rent board office or giving them a call. I firmly believe that you have to do your best to educate yourself. You can’t be lazy when getting into the rental business, that’s for sure.