Customer Reviews

California Tenants' Rights (California Tenant's Rights)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Roof leaking? Sure, you can repair the problem and deduct it from your rent, but what if the landlord responds with an eviction notice? There is a lot of bad advice out there. Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you SHOULD do something. Know your rights! This book will keep you on the right side of the law.

If your landlord is a jerk and you want to know what he (or she) can legally do or not do, this book will help. It will also give you some idea of when to go for professional help. It is of less help in figuring out what to do before you have to bring in the lawyers. I found it very helpfull to leave this book on the coffee table when my nosy landlord was snooping around my apartment. Apparently bad landlords don't like it when tenants know their rights.

Do not buy this book! It is 5 years outdated and should not be for sale on this site.

Read the detailed description of this book, it is from 2005, so save your money and make sure you buy legal books that are current from 2009-2010 only.

They should include the 2005 date in the book title so buyers can clearly see how old this book is.

Overall the book is good but there is a huge omission that has to be corrected. While there are sample forms in the book there is no sample notice to terminate tenancy. In fact, there is no information at all about what a tenant's notice to terminate should look like. This is an enormous problem and has to be corrected.

The Landlord's version of this book is much more complete. It includes a CD with PDF files for printing notices, etc. This Tenant's Rights books needs a CD with forms, including notice, to be included.

I received this book from Amazon just in time- after being homeowners for 25 years, we're about to become renters until we relocate out of California.
This book will be an indispensable resource in helping us negotiate our lease conditions, protect our rights, maintain a smooth relationship with our landlord.
This book is very comprehensive- I haven't yet found a question it can't answer. It even details select local city and county laws protecting tenants rights.

Highly recommended!

If you cannot purchase the latest edition from Amazon -- not something that is as out-dated as this one -- then go to a physical bookstore and buy or order the latest edition from it. California's state codes for tenants and landlords have been amended several times since 1989. If Nolo cannot keep up with the changes, it should get out of the business of publishing books about California tenants rights (and for landlords, as well).

To pick good tenants, a landlord sometimes has think like one. I selected this book to get a feel for what concerns tenants might have. It has a decidedly different perspective than Every Landlord's Legal Guide.

In reading through this book, I found several interesting points. Landlords looking to sell a place have to abide by certain rules, similar to providing advanced notice before entering the property. Foreclosure's effect on tenants is equally devastating, but covered to some degree. Recent laws provide some protection for tenants in bank-owned properties. And tenants have several ways of staving off evictions. The Landlord's Legal Guide provided information on Answers to evictions but did not cover Motions to Quash or Demurrers. I hope I never get first hand experience with any of these, but it is good to know.

In addition, while the Landlord's Legal Guide provided some guidelines about California, this book goes into detail on Californian rental laws. It covers rent control and eviction protection ordinances. This book is highly recommended for tenants and also recommended for landlords in California.

This is not my first Nolo series book, but I find them all to be easy to read and understand, as it is casually explained. This one is printed much bigger and is easier to read and includes many forms that would, one day, may become necessary while living as a tenant.

While there's definitely things that are common sense in here, or you can panic and look up a particular issue when the problem actually occurs, this book is definitely a good guidance support to have whether it's your first time moving in or living as a tenant for awhile. Your rights could even be violated and you might not even know it or care; but knowledge is power, and having books like these can be a major asset. I really had no clue when it came to tenant's rights/etc. but this definitely makes me feel comfortable on what to do and look at for (as is the case with most Nolo books). Although for specific issues, laws can definitely differ, but having a general knowledge/idea is better and one step forward in moving in the right direction than being completely oblivious that there is even a problem to begin with.

Why be in the dark and unprotected when for a small investment for the price of this book, you'll get far more for your money than seeing a lawyer, and know how to protect yourself from bad landlords.

You just can't beat "Nolo's" books. From their Divorce books to books on how to create a Living Will and Trust, they get 5 stars, and this book, "California Tenant's Rights' is no exception.
Well thought out, well organized, and filled with information a renter in California should not be without.

Nolo is well known for its clearly written do-it-yourself guides to handling legal issues. I've used many Nolo products in the past and have always found them to be informative and practical. "California Tenants' Rights" is no exception.

Anybody who rents an apartment or house in California will find this book to be an invaluable resource. The text is very comprehensive, with guidance for all of the important activities in renting: finding properties, signing leases, dealing with roommates, requesting repairs, resolving conflicts, and moving out.

As with just about all Nolo publications, this book is organized in a very straightforward way and is written in a clear, clean style. Each chapter covers a broad topic, such as All About Rent, Security Deposits and Last Month's Rent, or Evictions. After a brief introduction, the text explains the key principles underlying each topic and helps you figure out your legal rights and responsibilities.

Bottom line: "California Tenants' Rights" is a reliable, no frills-no hype guide. I strongly feel that all renters (and prospective renters) owe it to themselves to pick up this book. Five stars.