All Forum Posts by: Wai Chan

@Dan H.

Sure. Feel free to reach out anytime

I installed a mini-split HVAC in one of my units a few months ago. Recently, another tenant reported it to the City, and I received a code enforcement letter requiring a permit for the HVAC. I promptly applied for a no-plan mechanical permit online the next day. Since the HVAC includes heating, I also needed to pay for a heat pump permit, bringing the total to $290.

I scheduled a virtual inspection for this morning. When it began, the inspector asked me to show the condenser to ensure it was on a pad. He then asked to see the side of the HVAC and read the label for the current rating. Next, he wanted to check the circuit breaker.

When it came time to inspect the indoor unit, I informed him that I needed to ring the doorbell since the unit was tenant-occupied. After a brief wait, the inspector said it was fine if the tenant wasn’t home and didn’t need to see the indoor unit. However, the tenant opened the door, and I asked the inspector if he wanted to check inside. He replied that the installation was straightforward and didn’t need further inspection. The entire process took less than two minutes, and I passed the inspection.

Is this a joke? What’s the point of getting a permit? I don’t feel like it offers any protection if the contractor did something wrong with the installation. It feels like paying a fee just to avoid harassment from code enforcement. What is your inspection experience in San Diego?

 Thank you for the link. That's a good idea to learn from the tenants' right group first!

 No worry. I found this also frustrating sometimes investing in CA with all these left-wing policies trying to ask you not to do it. I hope there will be some changes after November but we will see.

Even with all these speed bump I still want to invest in CA vs OOS. I am actually selling a few in Dallas to do a exchange in San Diego....

@Bruce Woodruff

Haha. Thanks for the discouraging comments. I also own properties in Texas and I can evict tenant within 45 days with less than 1K of fee. I understand the pros and cons with OOS vs San Diego investing. For the past 10 years she is the first tenant give me trouble. I take it as lesson learned and I am sure this thing will happen if you have invested long enough.

No offense but most PM are useless. The resource/tool they have is same as me. There is no other legal way to end this other than filing eviction. Hiring PM or not will give me the same story.

@Adam Bartomeo

I agree with you. Most people do not understand the rule in CA. I would rather work around the situation for now. Eviction is really the last resort if I can't withstand any more

@Theresa Harris

I plan to give her notice when the lease is up next May. However my understanding is that with or without just cause landlord cannot move the tenant out easily in San Diego nowadays. If she doesn't cooperate I will need to evict her which will take 6-9 months and 25K loss of rent and fee.

@Colleen F.

@Colleen F.

The problem is that it is difficult to define what is necessary when you run into this kind of situation. It is not black and white written on any document. Different people can interpretate the policy differently. If we need clear definition I do think it will involve legal process which will be expensive and even more unnecessary. It is the sad story of being in landlord-unfriendly state.

I will definitely try making the repair as minimal as possible until I can evict the tenant more efficiently.

@Nathan Gesner

I agree that I have made a big mistake by being too nice to tenant. I should have drawn a clear line beforehand. I have thought of not doing the repair work but she has implied complaining that to City and said the house is not habitable.

The sad thing is that even the tenant has violated the lease and if I want to evict them with just cause, it will take 6-9 months from start to finish and 25K loss of rent + fee.

In California tenant can pretty much do whatever they want and the policy encourage them doing that. It is pretty sad.

@John Underwood

That's one of the option if the tenant is being cooperative and willing to put the extra people and pet on lease and pay the extra fee. I highly doubt they will do that.