News: Posts by Mike Nemeth
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The latest incarnation of Richmond’s rent control ordinance would have tenants and landlords sharing the administrative costs of the program.
An earlier version of the ordinance, passed July 21, would have required landlords to bankroll the rent control program on their own, even if they have no rent controlled units. Administering rent control is expected to cost Richmond up to $2.2 million per year. Landlords would be billed between $170 and $230 per unit annually.
At a special meeting Friday, however, Vice Mayor Jael Myrick proposed allowing property owners to pass 40 percent of those costs to tenants.
“We should… Read More
As in past years, Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, introduced legislation in 2015 that would mandate the installation of water submeters in units of new multi-family housing. SB 7 would impose this mandate effective Jan. 1, 2017, and include provisions to clarify how multifamily property owners can charge tenants for water use.
A submeter gauges water use in an individual apartment. This gives the tenant a financial incentive to conserve water because it keeps the renter’s bill down. This is good for both the tenant – and California’s water supply, especially during California’s worsening drought.
Many property owners already have voluntarily… Read More
The California Apartment Association is mulling what topics to write about next year in Apartment Management magazine.
Before we make any decisions, we’d like to hear from you. Which of the following subjects would you most like to read about?
You can choose from the potential themes in the informal poll below or make your own suggestions. You can also use the comments area to elaborate.
We appreciate any feedback you can offer to make next year’s content more relevant to you and your business.
Tagged: News
When the state Legislature returns next month from its summer recess, lawmakers will have plenty of important bills to tackle.
Many of these proposals address big issues for the rental housing industry, from seismic retrofitting to conserving water to preventing unauthorized subletting.
Below you’ll find a list of 10 priority bills that are still in the legislative pipeline and a summary of what they would do. These bills are among the 54 bills that the California Apartment Association has either lobbied for or against in 2015.
Earthquakes
AB 428 (D-Nazarian) – Seismic Retrofit: Tax Credits – This bill would allow… Read More
Tagged: Legislation
The Richmond City Council will hold a special meeting at 6 tonight to implement rent control and just-cause eviction more quickly than previously planned.
The council had decided to implement rent control effective Dec. 1, but this past Tuesday, a council member proposed fast-tracking the ordinance so it would take effect in September. See video
Since the council is entering its August recess, the move triggered the need for a series of special meetings.
Assuming the council approves rent control tonight with an earlier start date — the four votes needed to do so are there — it would then… Read More
Tagged: Rent Control Contra Costa
Question: As resident managers, we are dealing with several tenants in violation of pet rules. In retaliation, they have made false accusations of us entering their apartments without notice. They are now disturbing other tenants with this untruth and questioning our integrity. How can we protect or defend ourselves?
Answer: You can serve a three-day-notice to perform conditions and/or covenants or quit to permanently remove the unauthorized pets. If you can prove the pets are still there after the notice expires, you can file for unlawful detainer.
Question: In assessing a late charge in a lease, is there a law… Read More
Tagged: ColumnsComplianceLegal Q&A
Owners of rental property in Richmond will soon face a cap on rent increases and find it harder to evict problem tenants.
On the evening of Tuesday July 21, the City Council approved a rent control and just-cause ordinance on a 4-1 vote. At the time of the decision, Mayor Tom Butt and Councilman Vinay Pimple had left the meeting, having been denied an opportunity to speak about the proposal.
That denial came when Councilwoman Gayle McLaughlin successfully pushed to halt debate and hasten a vote [see video] following Vice Mayor Jael Myrick’s announcement that he would support rent control,… Read More
Tagged: Rent Control Contra Costa
Question: I have rented an apartment to an unmarried couple. The boyfriend’s mom is the co-signor. The boyfriend is moving out and wants his and his mom’s name taken off the lease. I don’t care if the boyfriend leaves, but I think his mom is still responsible. Am I right?
Answer: Most co-signor agreements, also known as guarantee contracts, provide that the guarantee of performance is through the term of the lease. If so, the mom would most likely remain responsible, even if her son moves out.
Question: My tenant has some damage to the outside window to the house… Read More
Tagged: ColumnsComplianceLegal Q&A
For years, tenants facing eviction have delayed the process by making unmeritorious claims regarding the presence of mold.
A California bill, however, would undercut this delay tactic by clarifying when mold constitutes a substandard housing condition.
While SB 655 by Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, provides that mold is a substandard housing condition, it will only rise to that level if a health officer or code enforcement officer has determined that it is extensive enough to endanger health or damage property.
The bill specifically provides that a property owner has no obligation to repair a mold problem unless the owner… Read More
Despite repeated demands from renter groups over the past year, the Burlingame City Council last week declined to move forward with an eviction-for-cause ordinance.
The ordinance was one of several proposals being considered during a study session.
Other ideas from Mayor Terry Nagel included a mediation program and requiring property owners to pay relocation assistance for tenants who get a 60-day notice to terminate a tenancy.
Despite the public and local rental owners having roughly 72 hours to respond to the July 13 meeting, CAA Tri-County assembled a small coalition of local rental owners and Realtors to attend the meeting… Read More
Tagged: Just Cause Eviction Tri-County