News: Posts by Mike Nemeth

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In the 2015 legislative session, plenty of harmful rental housing bills failed to pass the Legislature. Unfortunately, several positive bills died, too – and some right on the governor’s desk. Below, we offer summaries of rental housing related bills vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown. While most would have been good for multifamily, the first one in our list certainly deserved Brown’s rejection. Bill to Ban Arbitration Agreements – Vetoed AB 465 (D-Hernandez) – Arbitration Agreements –AB 465, among other things, would have prohibited arbitration agreements in employment contracts. The bill was strongly opposed by the business community, including CAA. In… Read More

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https://youtu.be/I3MNTfdo42U The Richmond City Council — the first to approve rent control in California in more than three decades — has rescinded the policy in response to a signature-gathering effort spearheaded by the California Apartment Association. The council’s unanimous vote Tuesday night came after Contra Costa County’s Elections Division certified more than 5,000 signatures collected during the CAA-led petition drive. “We believed the council had rushed to judgment on a policy that would bring long-lasting, negative consequences for the city’s housing stock and financial stability,” said Tom Bannon, CAA’s chief executive officer. “CAA quickly launched the referendum push so that… Read More

Tagged: Contra CostaTri-County

At the CAA Annual Membership Meeting, President Mike Bissell announced the results of the 2016 California Apartment Association Board of Directors’ election. Bissell welcomed newly elected and returning directors to the board during the yearly membership meeting Thursday, Oct. 29.  Voting for the 2016 CAA Board of Directors closed Oct. 19. In accordance with the CAA bylaws, directors serve a term of three years. Newly elected directors begin their terms Jan. 1. 2016 newly elected members of the CAA Board of Directors, representing specific membership categories, are as follows: Independent Rental Owner Membership Classification Michael Kraszulyak, Savvy Properties, LLP, Berkeley… Read More

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During a pair of public hearings this month, the Mountain View City Council scrapped a number of bad rental housing proposals. At the first meetings, Oct. 19, the council rejected a moratorium on rent increases, rent control and just-cause for eviction. The 5-2 decision came after nearly seven hours of presentations, public testimony and council discussion. Darren Carrington, senior vice president at Prometheus Real Estate Group, said the proposals won’t address the root of the problem — the city’s housing shortage. “Everyone agrees demand far outweighs supply,” Carrington said, according to this San Jose Business Journal article. “This is the… Read More

Tagged: Tri-County

The Pacifica City Council this week balked at a proposal to implement an emergency just-cause eviction ordinance, although threats of rent control and similar regulations remain in play. At its Oct. 26 meeting, the council declined to schedule a vote on the item next month. If the proposal had advanced to the Nov. 9 agenda and been approved, the law would have taken effect immediately and applied to all rental housing regardless of size, type or year built. Councilman John Keener proposed this urgency measure to address pending notices to vacate given to residents at Pacific Skies Mobile Home Park,… Read More

Tagged: Tri-County

In 2015, CAA’s government affairs team fought numerous battles to stop legislative attacks on the rental housing industry. The legislative session, which ended Oct. 11, packed negative proposals on a wide spectrum of issues, from rent control to taxes to public safety. Below is a sampling of some of the most onerous proposals, organized by subject, that CAA helped prevent from reaching the governor’s desk. The authors of these bills, however, can have them reconsidered in 2016, so CAA’s work is far from over. Landlord-Tenant AB 396 (D-Jones-Sawyer) – Criminal Records – AB 396 attempted to prohibit landlords from using… Read More

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Question: We lease out a condominium and do not wish to renew the lease when it expires. Should we give a 90-, 60- or 30-day notice? What form should we use to terminate the lease? Answer: California law does not require any notice prior to a fixed-lease expiration. However, examine your lease since many leases do require a notice of intent of non-renewal. Typically, they are for 30 days. It is always a good idea to communicate your intentions to your tenants as early as possible and document the communication. Question: Can you tell me if someone needs any kind… Read More

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking information from the multifamily housing industry to develop the first 1-100 score for water efficiency in rental housing. A simple-to-understand score will help building owners understand how much water their buildings are using. “We need your help to make this a reality, so we’re asking you to share a few pieces of information about your multifamily property/ies,” the EPA said in an email, adding that ENERGY STAR and WaterSense are working together on the project. To develop the score, however, the EPA needs data by Friday, Oct. 30.  See the blue box for… Read More

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Question: I am planning to rent to three adult roommates. I know they all have to fill out separate applications. But, how do I handle the security deposit?  Do I ask each tenant for one-third? Answer: You should charge one deposit and not account for it until all tenants vacate. Make this clear in your lease so that if one tenant vacates, it is up to his or her former roommates to get reimbursed. Question: I have reason to believe that a single tenant has moved out from my rental property and has an arrangement with a third-party couple now… Read More

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With this month’s deadline for Gov. Jerry Brown to sign and veto bills in the proverbial rear-view mirror, CAA has compiled the following summaries of rental housing-related laws set to take effect Jan. 1, 2016: Affordable Housing Community Revitalization Authority Assembly Bill 2 (D-Alejo) AB 2 allows specified “disadvantaged” areas of California to create a new entity called a Community Revitalization Investment Authority. The purpose of the CRIA is to improve conditions with the intent to increase employment opportunities, reduce high-crime rates, repair deteriorating and inadequate infrastructure, clean up Brownfields and build affordable housing. Density Bonuses and Parking Spaces Assembly… Read More

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