If you are a renter, you have had questions about all the fees and deposits charged by landlords and wondered, “Can I get my security deposit back?” or “Are landlords allowed to charge application screening fees?” This article addresses many of the important questions a renter may have about lease agreements in California. For more information, contact David Knecht at davidknechtlaw.com.

1. Does the landlord have to return the application screening fee?

No. An application screening fee or new tenant processing fee that is used to check the background or the references of a prospective tenant can be non-refundable.

2. Can a landlord make a security deposit nonrefundable in California?

No, a nonrefundable deposit is technically illegal (See Civil Code Section 1950.5(m), but before you get too excited, please note that there are certain instances where a landlord may keep your deposit. A landlord can keep the security deposit if you owe rent, don’t leave it clean, damage the property, or fail to restore property (such as a key or furniture).

3. Is there a limit on the amount of the security deposit a landlord can charge in California?

Yes, there is a limit on security deposits. A landlord can charge the first month’s rent PLUS either two times the monthly rent (for unfurnished) or three times the monthly rent (for furnished). If the place has a waterbed, then these maximums are higher. For example, if your rent is $1000 per month for an unfurnished studio apartment, your landlord can charge $1000 for first month’s rent plus $2000 for the two month’s rent, for a total of $3000 in a security deposit.

4. What cities have rent control?

Some California cities have rent control ordinances that limit or prohibit rent increases. These ordinances vary by city, but they often specify rules for when rent can be increased or when a tenant can be evicted. You can often find these ordinances on the city web site. For a list of cities with rent control ordinances, go here. http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/appendix2.shtml

5. What should I look for in a lease agreement?

An often neglected, but obvious, rule is that you should always read your lease agreement in full prior to signing it. If there is a term that is unacceptable to you, then you should negotiate with the landlord to remove it from the contract or decline to rent that particular property. Some of the basic items you will want to review are the following:

• Is the lease for a specific term, or is it month to month?
• What day is the rent due and how much is it?
• Am I responsible for utilities, HOA fees, etc.?
• Can I sublease to roommates or to another tenant entirely if I need to move out?
• What are the fees (look for carpet cleaning fees, pet deposit fees, key fees, cleaning fees, etc.)
• Are there any restrictions on how I can use the property? (parking, etc.)

Conclusion

As a renter, you are in the driver’s seat when reviewing a lease because a landlord wants your money, so take your time to read it carefully and understand the terms. If you have questions about a lease agreement or need representation in a housing contract dispute, contact David Knecht at davidknechtlaw.com.

Should I Facebook friend my boss? Should I tweet about work? Can I text coworkers? With the increasing participating in social media, a myriad of questions arise which have legal implications. This article will discuss some areas of liability to consider when you are deciding how and when to use social media.

1. Beware of Disclosure of Confidential Information.

Most employers will require you to sign an agreement not to disclose confidential information or trade secrets. You need to be aware that posts about your company’s confidential information, even to a limited audience of Facebook friends, could be considered a disclosure of confidential or trade secret information. If you are in the medical field, be particularly careful not to post about patient information, as this is protected by HIPAA.

2. Watch Out for Defamation or Violations of Your Employer’s Policy

In an interesting 2012 case, an Appeals Court Research Attorney was suspended and ultimately fired for a tweet-attack during an ethics hearing for an attorney, where she called him a “douche bag” and indicated she had insider knowledge on how some judges will rule. This highlights the issue that your freedom of speech doesn’t cover speech that is false and harmful, and it may not protect you from termination if you are in violation of an employer’s policy.

3. Human Resources May Have Their Eye on You

Many job seekers forget that a company may research your LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other Social Media accounts. If you have publicly posted information without any restrictions on who can view it, then you will have a difficult time claiming the protections of privacy laws. While it is still illegal for an employer to discriminate against you based on ethnicity, pregnancy, political or religious views (all of which may be discovered from your Facebook account), you may want to limit the information available to potential employers.

4. Social Media Posts Can Be Damning Evidence

If you are in any type of litigation, you need to be aware that information posted on social media can be evidence in a case. For example, if a former employer is looking for evidence of your breach of non-compete or non-solicitation provisions, your Facebook page listing a new employer and showing posts soliciting former co-workers to the new employer could be invaluable evidence against you. Another common example would be posts relating to your health to discredit a personal injury case.

If you have questions about how social media could impact your job hunting, current employment, or a current litigation case, feel free to contact an experienced attorney, David Knecht, at davidknechtlaw.com.

Planning for what happens after you die can be a very difficult thing for most people. Frequently, people rationalize that a will is something to worry about when they are old, or if they own a large amount of property.  However, young or old, married or single, parent or not, a will can be one of the most important documents you create.
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We all make mistakes and we will all, at some point, be caught. If you have been charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) there are some things that you should know. How do you know that you were treated fairly? How do you know if the arresting officers acted appropriately? Many people do not know what to expect or what their rights are when the get a DUI or a DWI, this article will help answer a few basic questions.
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