I’ve spent six years in property management, mostly on rent control compliance in San Francisco. In that time, I’ve noticed that very few owners file capital improvement or O&M petitions, even when they likely qualify.

The process is a lot of work: documenting every cost, allocating it across units, calculating passthroughs, sending notices, and going through hearings. There also aren’t many professionals who handle petitions from start to finish.

So I’m curious:

• Have you filed one? Was the recovery worth the effort?

• If you haven’t, why not? Was it the paperwork, the numbers not justifying it, or concern about tenant relations?

• Did you do it yourself or hire help?

Are owners leaving money on the table, or are more people filing than I realize? I’d appreciate hearing your experiences and which city you’re in.