California Apartment Association

Changes to pilot program mark another victory for rental housing in High Desert

Hesperia is launching a more palatable version of its crime-free rental housing program, thanks to the government affairs work of CAA Greater Inland Empire.

The California Apartment Association worked to remove two problematic components from the pilot program, which takes effect in this High Desert city Jan. 1.

The troublesome elements would have forced rental property owners to pay more for the program, while opening them up to potential litigation.

Under the city’s previous plans, property owners faced a fee schedule ranging from $37.50 to $50 per unit annually.

CAA, however, argued that these charges are based on the incorrect assumption that all rental owners provide substandard housing that generates crime.

After listening to CAA, the Hesperia City Council unanimously agreed on Oct. 9 to shoulder the financial impact of the pilot program. This saved rental industry members in Hesperia thousands of dollars over the next two years.

“I’m very pleased that Hesperia’s city council took CAA’s concerns into consideration and decided to cover the costs for this pilot program,” said Ben Lamson, founding partner of Bluestar Properties Inc.

Toward the end of the pilot program, the city will reassess its cost and how to fund it. When the issue returns, CAA will work to ensure the fee schedule incentivizes good landlords who comply with the crime-free housing initiative.

The other issue that CAA tackled centered on criminal background checks. The city planned to mandate that all apartment owners and management companies use the Sheriff’s Department for criminal backround screenings. This unprecedented component would have posed serious liability issues for members and the rental housing industry.

CAA gathered support from members and other like-minded industries, such as the Realtors, to persuade the council to reverse course both on criminal background checks and the fee schedule.

Earlier this year, CAA helped members in Victorville, a neighboring city to Hesperia, save money and helped good landlords when the city brought forward revisions to its rental property inspection program.

“Achieving these victories on behalf of the rental housing and apartment industries in the High Desert is a direct result of the relationships we’ve established thanks to an aggressive government affairs program,” said Tim Johnson, CAA Greater Inland Empire executive director.

The High Desert is a region in the northern section of the Inland Empire, located immediately north of the San Bernardino Mountains.