Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

What to Expect when Moving in with Landlord?

I have been looking for a rental for my roommate and I since December 2009. I regularly check more than a dozen property management companies' websites for their updated rental lists, but the majority of my search is performed on Craigslist. We are long-term tenants, so I tend to be firm when it comes to features/amenities that I want in a rental (i.e. number of bathrooms, private laundry, parking, and dishwasher). My desires coupled with my roommate's budget has really limited our options.

The rentals we have looked at thus far have been either very small, in terrible shape, in sketchy areas, not as advertised, or a combination of the aforementioned. One condo had a washer but plumbing and venting/ducting restrictions made a dryer impossible. (Seriously. Washer, but no dryer - ?!)

We have all that we desire in our current rental; however, it is going to be foreclosed if a short-sale is unsuccessful and we don't want to be rushed into finding a place whenever the sale or foreclosure finally happen.

SO, a few weeks ago I posted on Craigslist in the "Housing Wanted" section. I was contacted last week by a man who, due to a recent divorce, wants to rent the two empty beds and baths in his home. We are planning on looking at his house later this week, but his description and photos seem to have everything we want.

His house is in a really, really, really nice neighborhood that would otherwise be unaffordable for us. It's very quiet and safe with none of the noise from police cars' sirens and helicopter searchlights and emergency vehicles we hear multiple times per night where we live now. No car alarms going off at all hours; no nightly parties at the body shop across the street; no loud buses and trucks; no homeless people going through the garbage (loudly) at night and fighting with one another; and no shared walls, floors, or ceilings with noisy neighbors. The prospects of all of the above are things I would never have thought possible.

I don't know how I feel about living in a house with its owner. Will I feel like its my "home" or will it always feel as though I'm a guest in his place? It's one thing to have a roommate; it's another to have a roommate to whom one pays his rent. I know it depends completely upon the the person and there are no absolutes in this situation.

Assuming we begin seriously considering this as an option after viewing the house and meeting the owner, what are some general guidelines for living with one's landlord?

Would we want to have anything in the lease that normally we wouldn't consider when signing a lease for a "regular" apartment?

Are there any additional questions we should ask the owner?

Any other advice, comments, suggestions, recommendations, or considerations?

Thanks so much in advance!


Asked on 5/31/10, 1:33 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
George Shers Law Offices of Georges H. Shers

This is a forum for the answering of legal questions, which is not what your inquiry really is. You need to go to sites used by tenants to see if anyone will exchange their experiences.

I do wonder if you wil be satisfied with any living arrangement. You describe all the places you have seen as dumps and you are very happy with you current residence, but then describe it as being a noisy crime center. You find a much better place at a cheaper price so you start questioning the one drawback it might have. Nothing is perfect in life, nor is every landlord the same.

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Answered on 5/31/10, 5:53 pm


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