Summary
The Northern California Landlord's Fortress treats the Bay Area rental market like a legal battlefield—where a single misstep can trigger outsized financial damage. It is a strategic field manual to help landlords protect their assets through knowledge, procedure, and airtight documentation.
Author Edward C. Ip—a lawyer with a multidisciplinary background as an engineer, developer, and licensed broker—draws on experience representing both landlords and tenants to offer a true 360° view of the terrain. Curator and editor Jayden Lau provides the creative vision and refinement behind the work.
The book exposes the “most expensive mistake a landlord can make”: not knowing the hyper-local rules. You’ll see how an unpermitted unit can lead a court to order repayment of all rent ever collected (with potential treble damages in cities like San Francisco and Oakland), and how a simple procedural error in an eviction notice can cost months of rent and legal fees.
Dense local ordinances from San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley are translated into clear, actionable checklists and step-by-step plans. Core chapters cover mastering the tenant-vetting process under new laws like AB 2493, building ironclad lease agreements, and calculating the real financial risks of evictions and short-term rentals gone wrong.
Note: This book is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Consult an attorney for guidance on your specific situation.