The story about your friends and their boat.

Another story about poor judgment from a friend. Must be very frustrating since they are your friends. It is even frustrating for me to hear about even though I don't know the people.

Since you display good judgment, I have to believe that you have many friends that display good judgment. I believe a few stories about those situations would also be valuable to hear about, and definitely less frustrating.

It's sad that I remember all of the bad stuff so vividly.

As a landlord, handyman, contractor or jeweler, all of my transactions/jobs went perfectly well -- over 98%. It's only the few that make it here in print! Growing up and in the business world I had many "best" friends that I could count on. For all of the positive things going on in my life, I loved to help those in trouble or in need.

I had to take an assertive training class in college because it was hard for me to say "no" to anyone. I learned I could say "no" without have to give a reason or excuse.

Yes I had many good friends over the years who needed help moving forward with their dreams. Jewelry store employee's who was ready to have a Jewelry Store of their own, but they didn't have the money needed and would take years to save up on a small salary from their current employers. So I helped a women with my inventory to fill out her showcases. She's now been in business for 40 years. After three years she was able to pay me back in full.

Another person with talent, he needed equipment. So I let him a casting machine, wax injector, rolling mill, torch set up, flex-shaft, burn out oven and other tools. In 9 months he purchased new tools and returned my stuff in great shape.

Another person who I set up his auto repair shop, electrical, air, lighting, office and stuff immediately had 9 employees. His business grew so fast he employed over 18 mechanics. Has a way of thanking me, he did all of my auto repairs, parts and labor for free, forever, until he passed away.

Of course out of the 10 friends whom I helped with a business (ideas, money, tools, location, etc.) there is the one that screwed me, lost my money and didn't even try to repay me, not even a sorry. I spent more money in court going after them than I had originally lost.

What about the customers that were about to make some major mistake in work on a property and you presented the facts and they made a smart choice which saved them aggravation and money. There has to be a bunch of those to cancel out the noodle brains that were penny wise and pound foolish.

One case, a tenant living one of my a small apartment buildings with a roommate, mom was moving from NYC to LA. She is an attorney and so is her son, my tenant. She purchased a building 3 blocks away. She wanted to hire me to remove the garage doors because they were falling apart and could slam down on someone's head. I quoted her a price and she asked if I could start tomorrow. I said "no"!

She was pissed off. Her and her also attorney son said why did I even quote a price if I can't do the job. I said I can do the job, but there was too much liability now. They asked, what liability. I explained that each tenant stores valuables in the closed locked garages. If I remove the door and anything got stolen, I would be liable. You should know as attorney's that you have to give the tenants a chance to secure they stuff and also move it out of the way when I'm taking off the doors and hauling them away. They agreed.

Then when the job was over, they both inspected it and handed me a check. They said the son was going to move from my building into this building soon, that they were going to collect the final rent check for the 1 year lease and then tell that tenant they have to move.

I stopped them and said, "You know you can't do that"! They mom finally lost it and screamed at me. Who do I think I am? She and her son are attorneys and know better than some contractor.

Then at the end of the lease going to collect the final rent check they told the tenant he has to go! He laughed in their face. Letting them know the building is under L.A. Rent Control. And that they had to before the 11th month was over, give them a 30 day notice they will not be renewing the lease and he has to move out. They didn't do that, so under rent control, he could stay on a month to month lease. If they want him to go, they have to file with Rent Stabilization and pay him Relocation money. Something at time like $11,000.

So when my tenant was moving out, he rented a U-Haul truck. I said to him, "Had you and your mom listened to what i had to say, you would be $11,000 richer and could have hired movers.

Just one of many situations that people don't listen.

Of course during the same time a lady friend that purchased a home with a female friend was going to sell, the friend needed her share for the wedding. I tole her that she could take out a second mortgage and pay her partner off, or get a new loan. And the amount she would pay would be 8% less than the opinions and comps of 3 agents. Why? Selling would cost 6% brokers commissions and 2 percent for transfer tax, escrow and fee's.

Robert,

Wouldn't the "just cause eviction requirement" of L.A. Rent Stabilization prevent them from gaining possession even if they gave notice to that tenant earlier?

What I meant was, wouldn't they have still needed to provide relocation payment when doing eviction for owner's son?

You gave me the impression that the earlier notice would have entitled owner to end tenancy without doing eviction for owner's son. I was not aware of that loophole, if it is true?

If a tenant has a Fixed term lease, and 30 days before the lease is set to expire, the owner must present the tenant with another lease with the exact same terms, except for an allowable rent increase. If the tenant refuses to sign it, then then when the old lease expires the tenant must move upon the request of the owner.

Don't sign another term lease, then I want you to move.

Yes, I am aware of that aspect of the law.

However I have to assume that the tenant would have agreed to sign another lease for the same term since the tenant wanted to stay and therefore the owner would have no choice but to pay the relocation money.

Yes I understand but I don't think it would have made any difference since the tenant wanted to stay and all he had to do was to agree to sign the new lease renewal which he almost definitely would have done.

So ends up in same situation, landlord needs to pay relocation money.

Yes, they had too pay relocation money. And then when the Attorney son went back to his old apartment to collect some mail, he spoke with some of my other tenants about me. His previous roommate, also an attorney, but female, didn't like the way he was bashing me. So she said, "What are you claiming Robert did?" He's been my landlord for over 10 years and every time a unit is vacant, he does amazing work. Like adding a bathroom to each 2 bedroom unit. Upgrading the electrical so every wall has an outlet and instead of 6 breakers per unit, we have 12 and more than double power at the main breakers". And he managed to give each bedroom a parking spot. Not 1 parking spot per unit but per bedroom.

The old tenant said that I tried to tell them about Housing Rules and him mom shut him up!. Then my tenant mentioned that while Robert is not an attorney, he took contract law in college, buys books on the subject every year to keep up with landlord/construction law. He has contracting and construction law licenses.

Then the x tenant said, yep, he knows his mom can blame other, but she shouldn't have agreed with her.

And then when the x-tenant and his mom had a sewer issue, they called me. I have tens of thousands in sewer machines, from 1" to 8" diameter pipe stuff. They had a blocked sewer line that couldn't be cleared and got estimates of $13K to replace a section and then patch over the area with asphalt, not even cement. When they called me and explained the problem I told them that was nothing new. The line didn't have to be dug up or replaced. It could be cleared out and if need be, have a liner installed over a faulty area. But since the bashed me and never apologized, I'm not interested in working for 2 lawyers who can legally challenge my billing. Even if I give them a bargain in the repair, I can't rely on them notifying the tenants of any limited access using the driveway while I make the repair or giving me power for my equipment. You will want me to bring my own generator and stuff. And will scream when I use the hose to water down the line. You complain about everything and never listen. So I said no.

Then they spoke to a neighbor across the street from my building. He had an emergency sewer collapse. I quoted them a range from $1,200 if repaired or around $4000 to be replaced and the sidewalk replaced where torn up with permits. That owner screamed at me for quoting him double. the going rate. That owner got like 5 estimates and had to pay another plumber over $7,000 for the same work and he did not replace the sidewalk, that was another $600. When I saw him next I asked him if he like paying twice my estimate and 400% more than he wanted to pay me. He said some stuff in a foreign language. I responded in the same tongue -- it takes one to know one! He was shocked that I understood him.