Ashley E. Klein

My focus

I regularly represent clients in contract and commercial litigation, purchase and sale and co-ownership disputes, landlord-tenant matters, non-disclosure and misrepresentation issues, construction and architectural litigation, quiet title actions, and fraud and misrepresentation lawsuits. I also counsel real estate entities and private investors on deals, investment strategies, and state and local regulations.

I am especially adept at California landlord-tenant matters. I represent entities and individuals in leasing disputes, wrongful eviction defense, unlawful detainer actions, and property management matters. Bay Area property owners rely on my advice and counsel about their rights and options under the San Francisco Rent Ordinance, statewide rent control regulations, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, and other local rent ordinances. I regularly assist clients with delicate issues related to policy and housing.

In 2018, Mayor London Breed appointed me to the San Francisco Rent Board, where I serve as one of four landlord commissioners. In 2020, Mayor Breed also appointed me to the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force to represent residential and commercial landlords on San Francisco’s economic recovery following state and local shelter-in-place orders. I also serve as a board member of the San Francisco Association of Realtors.

Insights

Presentations

• “Part I: NAR Settlement Impact: the Broker/Client Relationship; Part II: Leases & Q&A,” Webinar, August 2024
• “Maximize Profits With ADU,” Women's Council of Realtors Greater Los Angeles Unlocking Revenue Streams: Mastering ADU Investments and Fix & Flip Strategies for Maximum Profitability Event, May 2024
• “California Commercial Real Estate Law,” Nixon Peabody's 2024 California MCLE Virtual Seminar, January 2024
• “The Rent Registry, the Vacancy Tax, and Costa Hawkins: San Francisco’s Harbingers of Doom,” Webinar, San Francisco Association of Realtors, June 2023
• “Tenant Rights to Form Association,” Professional Property Management Association of San Francisco (PPMA) Membership Meeting, June 2023
• “San Francisco Apartment Association Legal Panel 2023,” Webinar, San Francisco Apartment Association, April 2023
• “Landlord/Tenant in 2023: General Updates and What Landlords Can Expect,” San Francisco Association of Realtors, Webinar, SFAR Seminar, January 2023
• “Real Estate in a Life After Covid (Assuming It Ends),” Webinar, San Francisco Apartment Association, November 2022
• “Rent Increases, the Anti-Price Gouging Rule, and What it Means During States of Emergency (Like Fires, Floods, and Pandemics),” Webinar, San Francisco Apartment Association, October 2022
• “SFAA Legislative & Judicial Recap,” Presentation, San Francisco Apartment Association, August 2022
• “San Francisco’s Condo Conversion Moratorium,” Webinar, San Francisco Association of Realtors, June 2022
• “TICs — What You Need to Know,” Webinar, San Francisco Association of Realtors, May 2022
• “Spring Trade Show,” Presentation, San Francisco Apartment Association, May 2022
• “Battle of the Opinions Vol. 3,” Webinar, San Francisco Association of Realtors, May 2023
• “Landlord Tenant Battle Round II: Five Crazy Lawsuits in San Francisco and How to Protect Yourself,” Webinar, San Francisco Association of Realtors, March 2022
• “Panel on RE AB854 w/ AREAA Chapter Leaders,” Webinar, Asian Real Estate Association of America, January 2022
• “2021 Hot Topics 2021,” Webinar, San Francisco Apartment Association, July 2021
• “AB 832: The Last Act in COVID Tenant Rent Relief,” Webinar, San Francisco Association of Realtors, July 2021
• “Learning from Landlords — 5 Wild Landlord/Tenant Stories and What We Can Learn,” Webinar, San Francisco Apartment Association, July 2021
• “Virtual Trade Show,” Webinar, San Francisco Apartment Association, June 2021
• “Legal Panel — SB91,” Presentation, San Francisco Apartment Association, June 2021
• “WCR Power Women in Real Estate Panel: Accelerating Your Business Post-Pandemic,” Presentation, Women’s Council of Realtors, April 2021
• “Landlord/Tenant Refresher a la Carte,” Webinar, San Francisco Apartment Association, March 2021
• “"Battle of the Opinions: Tenants vs. Landlords,” Webinar, Women’s Council of Realtors, March 2021
• “SB 91 COVID-19 Relief: Understanding the Second Half of California’s Rent Relief Law,” Webinar, San Francisco Apartment Association, March 2021
• “Accessory Dwelling Units and Illegal In-laws,” Presentation, San Francisco Apartment Association, February 2021
• “January Government Affairs Panel,” Presentation, San Francisco Association of Realtors, January 2021
• “Better Together 2021: The San Francisco Association of Realtors Virtual Installation,” Webinar, The San Francisco Association of Realtors, January 2021
• “COVID19 and Rent Relief Implications—Understanding AB 3088,” Webinar, Women’s Council of Realtors, September 2020
• “COVID Tenant Relief Implementation,” Presentation, San Francisco Apartment Association, September 2020
• “Economic Recovery Task Force - Policy Group on Economic Development,” Presentation, City of San Francisco, July 2020
• “Accessory Dwelling Units and Illegal In-laws,” Presentation, Homeshare Club of San Francisco, July 2020
• “State-Wide Rent Control — San Francisco and other North Bay Areas,” Presentation, San Francisco Association of Realtors, July 2020
• “Legal Panel & DIY Happy Hour @Home,” Webinar, Women’s Council of Realtors, June 2020
• “COVID-19 Implications PART II,” Webinar, San Francisco Association of Realtors,” May 2020
• “COVID 19 Implications,” Webinar, San Francisco Apartment Association, April 2020
• “COVID-19 Landlord/Tenant and Real Estate Implications,” Webinar, San Francisco Association of Realtors, April 2020