San Francisco Leasing

Current California rental laws are complex, and in San Francisco, leasing a home is even more challenging. Therefore, your lease agreement must be specific to San Francisco and detailed. We use the San Francisco Apartment Association’s Residential Tenancy Agreement, which is what every landlord in San Francisco should be using.

You need a lease agreement that protects you and your property. A good lease will outline the expectations you have for your tenant and establish a professional and respectful relationship.

Including Rent Collection Policies Leads to On-Time Payments

Collecting rent on time starts with expectations and standards. Put your rent collection policy in your lease agreement to ensure your tenants understand when it’s due, how it should be paid, and how much they will owe.

We make sure your San Francisco lease agreement includes information on late fees, grace periods, and further consequences when the rent isn’t paid on time.

When you write this directly into your lease agreement, there can be no excuses when tenants are late. They cannot say they didn’t know when rent was due or they weren’t sure how to pay it. You also have the opportunity to discuss rental payments when you’re signing the lease together.

Leasing San Francisco rental homes in The Mission District, The Marina, Mission Bay, and surrounding areas.

Reference Maintenance Responsibilities and Standards to Eliminate Conflict

Your lease agreement must also indicate who is responsible for what tasks when maintaining the property and keeping it in good condition.

As the owner, you are responsible for the general habitability of the unit and functions of all the systems, including heating and cooling and water and electricity. Tenants, however, share some of the responsibility, and your lease must be explicit about what those things are. At Gordon Property Management, our lease agreements outline:

Cleaning standards to avoid pests and deterioration.
Upkeep of common and outdoor areas.
Repairs and replacements of appliances.
Definitions of emergency maintenance.
Locations of emergency exits and other safety maintenance features.

You’ll want to include information about your process for requesting maintenance. Tenants should be able to reference their lease to understand how to contact you in case of an emergency, and what they should do when routine repairs are needed. Make sure the lease agreement explains how you will inspect and maintain your San Francisco rental property so they aren’t surprised by any preventative visits from pest control companies, HVAC techs, or other service providers.

Local, State, and Federal Disclosures and Addenda are Required

We are very careful about keeping your lease agreement legally compliant and up to date with all state, federal, and local laws. We will make all necessary changes and insert any needed addenda as laws change. For example, all lease agreements in California must now reflect whether your unit is included in the new rent control laws or exempt. We include information about how and when rent increases may occur and what the limits are.

Every lease must include federal disclosures such as information about asbestos and lead paint. California leases must also disclose any bed bug issues, and provide information about carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.

It’s very important that your lease agreement include information that’s specific to your property as well as general information that’s required by law. Not including the pertinent information could invalidate your lease. At Gordon Property Management, we make sure your lease has everything it needs to protect you and your San Francisco rental property.

What People Are Saying About Us

4.9 /5

54 Reviews