Our monthly series on rental horrors across the Bay Area continues, this time with a tip from a TBI reader who tweeted a posting from Craigslist about a rental—if you could call it that—in San Jose. The listing offers a broken-down minivan parked on the side of a road for $400 a month with an inflatable mattress, plus an extension cord to plug in a lamp or phone charger. “It’s got a porta potty with water and electric,” the listing reads.
This dubious rental prompted the question, Is this even legal? And are those who end up renting “places” like the one in San Jose protected like renters who live in an actual apartment are? TBI reached out to Eric Toscano, CEO and managing attorney at Tenant Law Group in San Francisco, to ask.
State law, he says, provides a basic level of protection for renters, including remedies if the landlord fails to keep the unit in “habitable condition.” California Civil Code Section 1941.1 lists items that make a dwelling “deemed untenantable,” including if it substantially lacks effective waterproofing (no broken windows); plumbing or gas facilities; and electrical lighting, with wiring and electrical equipment that conform with applicable law at the time of installation and are maintained in good working order.
It seems like an old extension cord (like the one offered in the San Jose listing) would not be considered adequate electrical equipment.
These types of rentals are—sadly—not uncommon here, as many people are simply looking for a place in which to sleep off the streets, and this low level of quality will still run someone $400 bucks. Even if the rentals aren’t legally sound, they won’t be disappearing anytime soon.
Let’s take a look at some of the other rental gems spread across the Bay Area that you can get your hands on in June.
1. Not Worth the Bed Bugs
As much as I love East Oakland, even I wouldn’t stay here. The motel is located off International Boulevard, and the street is where countless sex workers offer their services. The reviews on sites like Yelp are not helping either. The complaints range from the dirtiness of the rooms to a lack of basic toiletries to malfunctioning plumbing.
2. The Shared Living Room Strikes Again!
This is the same as a listing from last month’s roundup, except the photo from this month was taken from a different angle, and the furniture has been upgraded. Last month’s posting showed bunk beds on the left side of the room, and no desk and computer monitor on-site. Either this place has a high turnover rate, or they haven’t been able to rent it at all.
3. Is This Porn Disguised as a Rental?
Don’t actually type in the link. Also, the posting was flagged for removal. It looks like these “roomie” ads are popping up not only in the Bay Area but all across the country. A Reddit user from Phoenix, Arizona, came across a similar listing. Within the thread, a web wizard mentioned that upon doing some digging, he found that whoever owns the site paid to have its identity hidden — the original IP address shows that its servers are in Bulgaria and Germany.
4. Free for Cute and Under 25
This questionable “landlord” is tagging the apartment as being close to San Francisco State University, when, in reality, the place is in Las Vegas. Also, they’re “looking for cute and under 25 yr girls.” YIKES! Run away.
5. SO BOUJEE! SO RICH AND WEALTHY!
The listing boasts that the house is located in one of the most “affluent” neighborhoods in San Jose. The poster claims that most of the photos are stock photos provided by the homeowner’s-association site, and the blabber goes on and on and on. This has “SCAM” written all over it. I wouldn’t go see this place alone.
6. Free, but You Gotta Cook AND Clean
This particular listing offers to let you stay in the living room of a one-bedroom apartment in San Jose rent-free so long as you cook and clean. When is Craigslist going to catch up with all these listings asking for free labor?
7. You’re Better Off Living with Roommates—Or Even Your Parents
Renting a room at the former Fairlawn Hotel comes with some really strict rules. No guests after 10:00 p.m., let alone overnight guests. This building, located on Fruitvale Avenue in Oakland, went from being a resort hotel in the early 1900s to a halfway home for semi-independent mentally ill and formerly incarcerated people to a place for desperate renters looking for cheap housing. It’s eerie and a bit scary to walk through its hallways.
If you come across any gems like our aforementioned reader did, send them our way. See you next month with more!
