California Apartment Association’s Safe at Home Guidelines
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought frightening and uncertain times, leaving many Californians with health challenges and economic difficulties. The California Apartment Association urges rental housing providers to act with compassion and work with residents who face COVID-19 related hardships.
The last thing Californians need when they are struggling to maintain stability is to lose the safe place they call home. In this time of crisis, CAA members offer stability as they provide safe homes to millions of Californians sheltering in place.
To ensure this stability, CAA calls upon every California rental housing provider to support CAA’s Safe at Home Guidelines, revised as of July 1, by committing to the following:
- Work with residents who have documented COVID-19 related financial hardships to delay or reduce rent increases.
- Work with residents at risk of eviction due to the COVID-19 pandemic to reach a mutually agreeable resolution and avoid eviction, to the extent possible.
- Waive late fees for residents who pay rent after the rent due date because they have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and related government actions.
- Offer flexible payment plans for residents who cannot pay rent by the due date because of a COVID-19 related financial hardship.
- Direct renters to available resources to assist with food, health, and financial assistance.
- Communicate with residents proactively about steps being taken by management to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Follow all COVID-19 local and state regulations governing evictions and rent increases.
The challenge before us is one like we have never endured. But as a community of responsible housing providers, it’s our opportunity to help our communities heal. CAA believes rental housing providers have an obligation to stay informed, to look out for each other and our residents, and work together to weather this storm. If we meet this moment, we can come out of this crisis stronger.