Having an off week...
Jul. 25th, 2007 06:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
So. I missed Dudesday but it is still Mensday. No time to look for someone new so we are going with a file photo this time. Sexy, dreamy Christian Bale. I lurve me some of him.
Here he is.

Oooo...ahhh, ain't he fine? Now on to my stress and anxieties for a moment. This is why I have this journal, innit? O.o
I have had a hell of an anxious week really. A renter's nightmare really. I know most people own property but I don't and I am more vulnerable because of that so it really hit home this week as I get the dread message from the house manager.
"Janie, give us a call, it is important. I have news about the ____ Street House."
So the first thing that leaps to my mind is that the landlord is going to sell it. He has MS and has gone into early retirement. By all accounts he is doing really well but he bought the property in the 70's and stands to make a fortune on it. We figure more than a million on it. So yes Virgina, I was right. I really wish I'd had someone to place bets on that with. I would have won!
Some person had spotted our lovely piece of property and approached the landlord. He had not put it on the market. So I have a long dishy conversation with our house manager who is British, used to live on the first floor here, is of my tribe and really fun to talk to. We dissect, analyze and generally chew on this whole conundrum. The thing is...this is Berkeley and according to Berkeley law, the tenant is king. But we moan and whinge because that is what women do at times like this and because it is fun to do. She is going to get her real estate license so she has a good perspective on the market for properties. She let me know that she had told all the other tenants in the building and I got her to promise that she would be our mole in the house sale process and give me info every step of the way.
So today was the house inspection. They do a preliminary look and walk through for termites. I got the skinny on the potential buyer from my neighbors downstairs. He apparently is in his mid-30's, has tons of money and is a bit "weird". Beth, also of my tribe, was home and I ran into her on my way out the door to go house sitting tonight and she had been on the computer and on the phone with the Rent Stabilization Board of Berkeley today. She got the low down on our situation. It is good for the long standing tenants and not so good for the newer tenants.
Those of us who have been there for more than 5 years are protected by about 8 different laws and statutes which make it impossible for a new landlord to evict us from our apartments unless we damage them in some way or neglect to pay our rent. This protects three of the apartments straight up. The two newer tenants are more precarious and can be asked to leave if the new owner wishes them to. I felt better but I feel bad for the new people. I have been in the building a lot longer than 5 years. So whew.
There is one other thing that could possibly happen to the house lawfully. It could be taken off the market as a rental property and converted to a single unit dwelling. If that does happen by law also the current tenants of the building are to be compensated an amount that would equal a certain amount of time's rent. The rent board estimated that amount for each of us would come to about $10K. So...if I end up having to relocate...I would have the funds to do so.
Beth was pretty smart today and casually asked the potential buyer nosey questions to see what his deal was. It seems as though he would want to move into the building if he in fact buy it. So ugh on that. That means that someone will definitely be kicked out to make room for him. I like all the people that live here.
So I tell you, I hate things like this and it has been worrying me alot since last night when I found out but I pushed it to the back of my mind and decided I would not worry about it until I had researched tenant laws more and gotten information from the city. Beth has done all that and it looks good for some of us.
The other thing to consider about this house is that it is a real fixer upper. It needs beaucoup work inside and out and our current landlord pretty much figured out that the entire plumbing system should be updated. Also....there is a great house for sale right up the street that needs no work and is architecturally more sound. If this person is smart...they would look at that one.
So that is what is going on...I have to say. I am soooo glad that I live in the People's Republic of Berkeley. It is a city that definitely provides protection for those of us who rent.
I feel better after writing that all out. If you are curious why not peak inside? He he he.
Here he is.

Oooo...ahhh, ain't he fine? Now on to my stress and anxieties for a moment. This is why I have this journal, innit? O.o
I have had a hell of an anxious week really. A renter's nightmare really. I know most people own property but I don't and I am more vulnerable because of that so it really hit home this week as I get the dread message from the house manager.
"Janie, give us a call, it is important. I have news about the ____ Street House."
So the first thing that leaps to my mind is that the landlord is going to sell it. He has MS and has gone into early retirement. By all accounts he is doing really well but he bought the property in the 70's and stands to make a fortune on it. We figure more than a million on it. So yes Virgina, I was right. I really wish I'd had someone to place bets on that with. I would have won!
Some person had spotted our lovely piece of property and approached the landlord. He had not put it on the market. So I have a long dishy conversation with our house manager who is British, used to live on the first floor here, is of my tribe and really fun to talk to. We dissect, analyze and generally chew on this whole conundrum. The thing is...this is Berkeley and according to Berkeley law, the tenant is king. But we moan and whinge because that is what women do at times like this and because it is fun to do. She is going to get her real estate license so she has a good perspective on the market for properties. She let me know that she had told all the other tenants in the building and I got her to promise that she would be our mole in the house sale process and give me info every step of the way.
So today was the house inspection. They do a preliminary look and walk through for termites. I got the skinny on the potential buyer from my neighbors downstairs. He apparently is in his mid-30's, has tons of money and is a bit "weird". Beth, also of my tribe, was home and I ran into her on my way out the door to go house sitting tonight and she had been on the computer and on the phone with the Rent Stabilization Board of Berkeley today. She got the low down on our situation. It is good for the long standing tenants and not so good for the newer tenants.
Those of us who have been there for more than 5 years are protected by about 8 different laws and statutes which make it impossible for a new landlord to evict us from our apartments unless we damage them in some way or neglect to pay our rent. This protects three of the apartments straight up. The two newer tenants are more precarious and can be asked to leave if the new owner wishes them to. I felt better but I feel bad for the new people. I have been in the building a lot longer than 5 years. So whew.
There is one other thing that could possibly happen to the house lawfully. It could be taken off the market as a rental property and converted to a single unit dwelling. If that does happen by law also the current tenants of the building are to be compensated an amount that would equal a certain amount of time's rent. The rent board estimated that amount for each of us would come to about $10K. So...if I end up having to relocate...I would have the funds to do so.
Beth was pretty smart today and casually asked the potential buyer nosey questions to see what his deal was. It seems as though he would want to move into the building if he in fact buy it. So ugh on that. That means that someone will definitely be kicked out to make room for him. I like all the people that live here.
So I tell you, I hate things like this and it has been worrying me alot since last night when I found out but I pushed it to the back of my mind and decided I would not worry about it until I had researched tenant laws more and gotten information from the city. Beth has done all that and it looks good for some of us.
The other thing to consider about this house is that it is a real fixer upper. It needs beaucoup work inside and out and our current landlord pretty much figured out that the entire plumbing system should be updated. Also....there is a great house for sale right up the street that needs no work and is architecturally more sound. If this person is smart...they would look at that one.
So that is what is going on...I have to say. I am soooo glad that I live in the People's Republic of Berkeley. It is a city that definitely provides protection for those of us who rent.
I feel better after writing that all out. If you are curious why not peak inside? He he he.