News: Posts by Mike Nemeth

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By Lynn Dover, Esq.; Shawn Bankson, Esq.; Susie Lein, Esq.   Question: What is the difference between a companion animal and a service animal? Answer: There is no difference. In the eyes of the law, they are both types of assistive animals for persons with disabilities. Question: I have an applicant who uses a wheelchair. She wants me to put a ramp into her unit, widen her doorways and install a roll-in shower for her. Do I have to do this? My property was built in 1972. Answer: As long as your property is not federally funded, you do not… Read More

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The Santa Rosa City Council on Tuesday postponed its vote to ban smoking in multifamily residences, opting instead to rework parts of the proposal so that it’s more amenable to the apartment industry. The council had received numerous letters from local property owners, and a few voiced their concerns at Tuesday’s meeting. For the past few months, the California Apartment Association, including its North Coast Division, has worked closely with the city to develop an ordinance that balances the needs of rental property owners and the health and safety needs of residents. CAA believes, however, that the ordinance as drafted… Read More

Tagged: North Bay

A Senate bill would give homeless people in California the “right to rest” in public places from shopping centers, public transit facilities to parks. Under SB 608 by state Sen. Carol Liu, D- La Cañada Flintridge, also includes sidewalks. This means a rental property owner couldn’t move a homeless person who was, say, sleeping in front of a leasing office. Moreover, CAA has argued previously that this type of legislation would include a prohibition from eviction. More from CAA: Don’t want clotheslines? Right to ban them is in lawmaker’s crosshairs  Nine bills California landlords should care about

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Proposal needs clarity, consistency before adoption A proposed ban on smoking in Santa Rosa apartment communities contains an unreasonably aggressive timeline and fails to offer landlords clear direction regarding their responsibilities. The California Apartment Association is calling on the Santa Rosa City Council to revise the draft ordinance, which it will consider at its meeting next week. CAA also is urging its members to write letters to council members, and if possible, attend the council meeting, which is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, at Santa Rosa City Hall, 100 Santa Rosa Ave. Over the past several months, CAA… Read More

Tagged: North Bay

Costa Mesa Mayor Steve Mensinger, who spearheaded work to bring more than 2,000 residential units to the city, will receive this year’s OC Housing Champion Award. Mensinger, whose efforts have helped revitalize blighted areas of Costa Mesa, will receive the honor during the California Apartment Association’s Orange County Charity Gala. Mensinger and several other elected officials will attend the elegant evening event, set for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at the Disneyland Hotel, 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim. Tickets are $175 and will help CAA meet its goal of raising $50,000 for Orange County United Way to move 12 families into… Read More

Tagged: Orange County

By AMY DREW THOMPSON On the heels of the vampire trends in pop culture, bed bugs are back. And they’re in it for the long haul. What began as a scourge reinfesting the cities of the Eastern seaboard has moved steadily westward, enjoying human blood meals along the way. The Golden State, the experts say, has not yet seen the worst of it. “Increased travel, increased use of second-hand items, changes in indoor pest management practices and pesticide resistance within some bed bug populations are potential factors driving their resurgence,” says board-certified entomologist Andrew M. Sutherland, Ph. D, and the… Read More

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Landlords could lose the right to restrict tenants from using clotheslines to dry their shirts, socks and other attire under a proposed bill. Assemblywoman Patty Lopez, D-San Fernando, argues that clotheslines use solar power and offer an energy-saving alternative to electricity- or gas-driven machine dryers. The California Apartment Association has taken an oppose position to Lopez’s bill, AB 1448. Most rental property owners have strict regulations about an accumulation of possessions on balconies. This legislation would interfere with an owner’s house rules and the aesthetics of the rental property. Property owners should maintain their right to decide whether clotheslines are… Read More

Tagged: Los Angeles

Question: We had to evict a real troublemaker recently, but he keeps coming back to the property to use the swimming pool and hot tub. He is not anyone’s guest, and some of the residents are frightened of him. What should I do? Answer: Calling the police for a criminal trespass and disturbance of the peace is the first recommended action. Question: I have a suspicion that one of our tenants falsified his application by giving me a different name and Social Security number than his own. If I can prove this, what are my rights? I have a six-month… Read More

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Question: I have a tenant who never pays his rent until he receives a three-day notice. We normally serve notices on the eighth of the month even though the rent is due on the first. He is on a one-year lease, and I don’t know my legal rights. Answer: You can try serving him with a three-day notice to pay rent or quit earlier than the eighth of the month. If he fails to make payment within the three-day period, you have the right to refuse the rent and commence eviction proceedings. Question: I have a tenant who always “races” … Read More

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Enjoy an evening of fine wines, gourmet food and exceptional networking – all while supporting the California Apartment Association’s government affairs efforts in Los Angeles. Cork & Sand is the annual fundraiser in L.A. benefitting CAA’s Political Action Committee. CAAPAC, along with CAA Los Angeles, works to create a positive business climate for the rental housing industry in the region. CAAPAC  also supplements CAA’s government affairs program by making contributions to state and local candidates who recognize the importance of the continued growth of the rental housing industry and its positive influence on L.A.’s economy. This year’s Cork & Sand… Read More

Tagged: Los Angeles