Category: Latest News

By Austin B. QuinnJuly 9, 2025 California residential landlords will need to adapt to several new changes affecting tenant security deposits this year. The new law, Assembly Bill 2801 (AB 2801), aims to reduce disputes by requiring landlords to collect photographic evidence and communicate the reasons behind each charge. AB 2801 creates new rules affecting…

By Adrian ReynaJune 18, 2025 In recent years, the United States generally and the State of California particularly have become all too familiar with declarations of states of emergency, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent Los Angeles wildfires. Because of this, California now seeks to implement additional protections to combat predatory practices…

By Austin B. QuinnFebruary 10, 2025 The new year has brought with it many changes to real estate laws in California. Brokers will have to adapt to the new rules in AB 2992, a bill that requires every broker to have a written buyer-broker representation agreement before receiving a commission on the sale of real…

By Austin B. QuinnDecember 30, 2024 The California Legislature’s 2023-2024 regular session came to a close this year on August 31, 2024, concluding with a frenzied final week featuring hundreds of bills on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. Land use and housing crisis issues drove legislative change yet again in areas involving ADUs, CEQA, fee transparency,…

By Austin B. QuinnDecember 4, 2024 Starting January 1, 2025, commercial landlords in California will need to accommodate additional tenant protections for certain small businesses and nonprofits. These changes stem from the recently passed SB 1103, which created new rules for rent increases, recovery of building operating costs, and lease termination procedures. In some instances,…

By Adrian ReynaNovember 19, 2024 Every residential landlord must be aware of a key change: one of the bills Governor Newsom signed into law this autumn aims to help residential tenants improve their credit scores by requiring many residential landlords to offer to report each tenant’s “positive rental payment information” to credit agencies. Offer to…

By Austin QuinnNovember 8, 2024 If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. In the eyes of the IRS, “buying deductions” through syndicated conservation easement transactions falls squarely in this category.  The U.S. Treasury Department and IRS recently issued final regulations classifying syndicated conservation easement transactions as “listed transactions” – a form…

By Sabrina D. JohnsonOctober 31, 2024 It goes without saying that real estate is a hot commodity in San Diego County. With the increased property values, comes increased disputes between neighboring owners over property boundaries. Every square foot counts where we are paying premium prices (and property taxes!) for our beloved San Diego land. Disputes frequently arise…

Two lawyers with HechtSolberg have been designated among The Best Lawyers in America® for 2025 in two practice areas: Paul E. Robinson, honored for Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law, and David W. Bagley II, honored for Real Estate Law.  Paul was also named the Best Lawyers in America 2025 Land Use and Zoning Law…

By Mickey MaherAugust 2, 2024 In the current economic climate, distressed tenants increasingly are approaching landlords about terminating their leases early – especially in retail and office settings. In a variation of the theme, a tenant may look to surrender a portion of its premises before its lease expires in consideration for reduced rent. No…