California Apartment Association

The California Apartment Association is analyzing thousands of bills introduced by the Feb. 21 deadline and is preparing to take positions on those relevant to the rental housing industry.

Below are summaries of some key measures on which CAA will likely take positions in the coming weeks:

Ellis Act — Legislation has been introduced to substantially weaken the state Ellis Act and allow local jurisdictions to prohibit rental property owners from selling or converting their buildings. This would force rental property owners to stay in business even if they are losing money.

Seismic retrofit – Legislation would require the seismic retrofit of masonry residential buildings without the ability to share costs with tenants or any financial assistance to rental property owners.

Eviction process – Legislation would authorize a sheriff to serve a summons and complaint by mail and would allow the person or business organization to accept service by mail by executing a written acknowledgment of receipt.

Water conservation – Two separate bills would mandate water submeters in all new residential units constructed after a specific date.

A third bill is sponsored by CAA and the Utility Management and Conservation Association, a consortium of national utility billing and submetering companies. This bill is intended to address the demand for water submeters from rental housing owners and developers, especially in light of the separate legislative proposals to mandate submeters in California.

The legislation would ensure that submeter supplies in California better match demand. To that end, the bill would make the state’s policies more efficient and flexible concerning the approval of the submeters. Moreover, the bill would assure submeter manufacturers that their products are welcomed in California and that the current cost, uncertainty and liability surrounding their shipment to the state will be diminished.