The conversation between the LL and myself didn't go so far as to explore any alternatives. He was just beating around the bush about when he had to commit to this other guy and why I was the one getting the news. It was later that I was talking to my neighbor and he suggested subletting a bay from him. It could be a win/win for all of us but it depends on the LL making an exception to the no subletting rule.

or ask if you can pay to store your stuff in some smaller area 'till you move

good thing is rents should be cheap due to economy

Good Luck!

would be great if you were in NW and closer

You sure you want to move to the PNW? You know, it rains all the time there. And when it's not raining, it's still grey. C'mon, don't you have seasonal affective disorder or something like that?

a couple of my best teen age years were spent up there. I log on to Craigslist every morning and check the prices on property and it makes staying in L.A. less and less attractive everyday.
I could sell the 'vair the 356 and the shop inventory and be able to cash out a 1700 sf home on a 2 1/2 acre piece of land on the penninsula and sell kayak gear out of my garage. ....it's a no brainer from where I sit.

Update with plot twist
 

A short time back someone who I know from here on PP (actually all the locals know him fairly well) came by my shop and introduced me to a gentleman (we'll call him Steve). Steve was curious about how big my shop was and how much I paid for rent. He was comparing it to his shop and his rent. Turns out he pays a lot more than me for the same sq'.
While drinking at the proverbial watering hole this morning I discovered that the very same gentleman, good ole Steve, is the perspective tenant that my landlord is negotiating with.
How pissed do you think I am?
I would like to take a moment and Thank our fellow Pelicanite for the introduction and to return the knife that I just found in my back.

Ouch! You don't think the PP member actually knew this was going to happen do you?

Damn, that sucks. Hopefully it wasn't intentional. Regardless, it seems that "Steve" approached your LL and offered him more money to give you the boot. Pretty classless.

I'll give him the benifit of the doubt, but he will get an ear full of what I think of his friend.

Who's to say that he might have just asked the LL if he had any space available, and the LL said "I've got something coming up", all without knowing that it was your shop he was talking about?

I know that if I was in a shop that was costing me twice what it would somewhere else, I'd be asking about vacancies too.

I doubt very much that he went in and said "hey, I'd like you to kick that guy out so I can move in" to the LL.

Kind of sounds like you're pissed at the situation and attributing way more malice than might exist, if it does at all.

If anything, if you talked to the potential new renter, nicely, and explain the situation, he might rescind his offer to the LL once he knows he's potentially screwing you over.


$0.02 (CDN)

Sorry to hear about this Kevin. If a compromise can't be reached with your LL, your options are few I'm afraid. Let me know if I can help. Regards, Chris

Read the whole thread Chris.

Well, at least I know it wasn't me. All of my friends with back stabbing tendancies are all dead.

Sorry to hear about the shop. It took me a long time to find the one I had down there. The LL rented mine in 24 hours when I left.

Keep us all posted!

$$$, and Business are just that, a contract or Business, no friends, no favors, I don't know what you expect from your landlord.

It's HIS building, you are RENTING it..........Just like a girlfriend with an apartment kicking you out.........."please let stay another month" you beg.......she say nope, I've got a new boy friend who buys me more jewelry and spends more on me than you will.

Move on with it, get another shop, buy/build your own.............not to sound cold, but change is good sometimes in your life.

don't know why you're so pissed at the landlord? It's called BUSINESS!, money talks.........doesn't matter if your best friend is moving in with your ex-GF or not, time to move on dood.

Sure, business is business. But for Steve to come along and ask around to see what Kevin is paying, and then to come back and outbid Kevin for shop space is a bit unfriendly, don't you think? Kevin's just talkin' shop with another guy in the industry, and said guy uses that information to Kevin's detriment. That's the way I see it. Maybe not illegal, but not cool, either.

Just wondering aloud, but would the world be a different place if we didn't have this "business is business" attitude where anything not illegal is deemed to be OK, which is often disparate from morals/ethics/good will/etc?

Kevin, I happen to like you a lot more than I like Steve. He is business first, and a hustler. If I had known that he would try to take your place before you were ready to leave, I would have never introduced you two.

After I left your shop an hour ago, I was thinking what else I could do to fix this problem. As you know I went to Steve this afternoon to get info for you. He has to sign a lease Jan 1. His rent may go up and he needs to talk to his LL first. He wants to pay a reasonable rent for his shop. He is looking at another location besides your location. Your LL may be in for a shock if Steve really isn't interested in your shop. Please call me again if you need any assistance. I want to help if I can.

I'm sorry for introducing you two, I thought I was doing you both a favor.
btw, you may keep the knife and send it along to your LL.

OK now that Chris and I have spoken I'll withdraw the comment regarding the knife I found in my back. Chris is NOT responsible for that cutlery.
All is good between you and I Chris. Don't lose a moments rest over what Steve and my LL are up to. You're the last person who should be concerned about the huge withdrawal that was just made from the Bank of Karma.

Far too many "ex-girlfriend" references but I suspect that speaks more to your personal experiences than to this topic.
Would it be "just business" if I were to wait till the last minute then tell my LL if he wants me gone he'll have to evict me? I'm sure that will buy me the couple months I need and cost him his new and better tenant. Hey it's just b'ness nothing illegal about it!
Oh and the girl who kicks you out because she has someone new who buys her more jewelry and spends more money is not a girlfriend, she's a whore. and thats a whole different business.

No Harm no foul Kevin, sure, you can wait months and months and make him evict you..........you could also trash the place before you leave just out of spite too...........

what ever floats your boat....as you mentioned, you should move up to the Seattle area, lots of kayak shops up here that turn a good dollar.......and I'm sure our local rental per square foot is cheaper than CA.

no personal spite or attack meant, sorry for your bad karma you're going through.

It's kinda like being the chicken on his way to slaughter. I know I'll end up with my neck on the chopping block but you can bet I'll be squaking all the way.

What do you think would happen if you offered somebody to pay double what he is currently getting for a rental space? I have a pretty good idea myself