The Property Playbook Podcast
Each episode we tackle the difficult conversations and topics that keep landlords up at night. We enlist subject matter experts to delve deep into solutions that help San Diego rental property owners stay relevant and out of trouble. Whether it's a new law or an old habit you gotta stop, our professionals are here to ensure San Diego landlords stay on the top of their game.
Hosted by long time San Diego real estate broker Peter Carlseen of Praecelsus Property Management (CA DRE 01441961), each episode is designed to educate and entertain because we all know that the only constant is change.
For more property management details, or to contact us directly, please visit www.PraeHomes.com
The Property Playbook Podcast
Landlord Law: Read the "Fine" Print
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
This episode of The Property Playbook kicks off with host Peter Carlseen welcoming landlord-tenant attorneys Dale and Kevin from Ted Smith Law, a firm that’s been in the trenches since the 1970s (and officially passed down after Ted Smith’s death in 2020). We get the human side first: why they do what they do, what gets them out of bed (spoiler: San Diego sunshine), and what’s on their Netflix queues—ranging from Russian czars to RuPaul’s Drag Race, because balance is important. The tone is casual, self-aware, and refreshingly honest for a conversation about laws that can cost you tens of thousands of dollars if you mess them up.
The bulk of the discussion dives into new and evolving California landlord laws, with one major takeaway repeated like a legal mantra: document everything. Security deposits are capped at one month’s rent (yes, even with pets), and landlords should protect themselves with meticulous photos, walkthroughs, and itemized lists—basically turning every rental into a low-budget documentary. Mold complaints, habitability issues, and sudden “the roof is leaking” claims (sometimes caused by tenants with hammers—yes, really) all underscore why photos, videos, and licensed inspections can be the difference between winning in court and crying into your checkbook.
They also cover exemptions under state and local Tenant Protection Acts, emphasizing that being exempt means nothing if your lease doesn’t say so word for word, in the right font size, with the right underlines—law is fun like that. The conversation rounds out with emotional support animals (including quails, lizards, and the mythical emotional support puppy), fair housing horror stories with $40,000 price tags, appliance requirements, and why DIY eviction notices pulled from the internet are a terrible idea. The recurring punchline? Ask “stupid” questions early, call a professional, and spend a few minutes feeling awkward now to save yourself months of stress—and a small fortune—later.
If you would like to contact either of the guests you can reach out to them at
evict@tedsmith.law or call them at 619-610-9332
Got a rental property? Find out why hundreds of landlords have trusted Praecelsus Property Management, Inc with their investment properties.
You can learn more at www.PraeHomes.com or better yet, contact Peter Carlseen directly for a free consultation at 877-772-3466 ext 7 or email peter@praehomes.com
If you're in San Diego County, chances are, we can help you! And if you're property is located anywhere else in the world, we can get you connected through our established network of trusted professionals.
In the meantime, hit LIKE and SUBSCRIBE and be sure to listen to all of our episodes!