security deposit

True Story – My Tenant is Taking Me To Small Claims

January 19, 2012

As many of you know I am the State of California rep for the blog: www.CaliforniaLandlordSolutions.com and I often get calls from people who found out website and want advice on how to handle a situation. Last week I was called by a lady who was shocked that her former tenant was taking her to [...]

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Interest on Security Deposit in Santa Cruz County

June 7, 2011

Interest is due annually on Security Deposits held within Santa Cruz County with the exception of Scotts Valley.   Interest needs to be paid at the end of each calendar year.  Our office pays in January and if under $5.00 we give tenants a rent credit if over $5.00 we send a check.  For 2011 the [...]

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Wear & Tear Versus Damages – Quiz Answers

February 9, 2011

Try this quiz: Wear & Tear (W&T) or Damages (D) Furniture scratches on wall Crayon drawings on wall Picture hook hole in wall Molly bolt hole in wall Hole in wall from doorknob Dent in wall from doorknob Mildew caulking in tub or around sinks Dead light bulbs Worn carpet at front door Stains all [...]

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Wear & Tear Versus Damages – Take the Quiz

February 2, 2011

Security Deposits are always a topic for heated discussion.  What is wear and tear versus damage?  Leaving a house dirty is not wear and tear.  It is dirty and cleaning can be deducted from deposit.  Security deposits aren’t to be used for last month rent because you may not have enough money left to cover [...]

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Landlording Made Easy – Really?

January 5, 2011

 I teach a regular weekend class at Cabrillo Community College in Aptos CA.  The next class is scheduled for Saturday February 26, 2011 from 9:00am-1:00pm.  For those of you who want to manage property yourself, or have inherited property and are trying to decide if to sell or keep and manage this is the class [...]

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Property Management from A-Z: Y

April 14, 2010

Yearly Planning, Year-End Planning Yearly Planning – this should be done before the new year begins.  It should also be reviewed quarterly.  Again, this is your business, your investment.  What should be part of your yearly-planning?  Any turnovers coming up, what maintenance needs to be done this year?  Have a budget?  Taxes, Insurance, Mortgage, Utilities [...]

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Property Management from A-Z: S

March 24, 2010

Security Deposits, Screening Applicants, Showings, Systems Security Deposits – this is always tricky.  I was just speaking with someone yesterday that was having a problem with the parent of a student they rent to and I asked how much was the security deposit – there was none!  I also recently picked up a 4-plex to [...]

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Property Management from A-Z: J

February 22, 2010

Jaded, Job & Judge Jaded – I see long time property owners who get to a point where they are jaded about tenants and being a property manager.  This ultimately comes about because they, the owners, don’t have procedures in place so every interaction with their tenants is a new and taxing experience.  This is [...]

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