Photo by Bob Knapik
Assembly Republican Leader Kristin Olsen addresses members of CAA during its 2015 Legislative Conference on Tuesday in downtown Sacramento.
About 200 property management professionals from throughout California converged on Sacramento on Tuesday, gaining key insights into bills that could affect their businesses.
Brimming with knowledge about the proposals, they then headed to the Capitol to sit down with lawmakers and discuss their concerns.
These grass-roots activities helped define the California Apartment Association’s annual Legislative Conference. The daylong event began at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown, where CAA’s government affairs team explained why landlords should care about some of the most visceral bills introduced this session.
Among the highest profile proposals for CAA are those dealing with short-term vacation rentals, criminal background checks, the Ellis Act — which allows landlords to leave the rental housing business — and mold.
“They’re very tangible issues,” said Shant Apekian, CAA’s vice president of public affairs. “I think all of you will be able to relate to them.”
Attendees also heard from Assembly Republican Leader Kristin Olsen, who outlined GOP priorities and explained a bill she is carrying to reform fair housing law and discourage frivolous lawsuits against small businesses.
“They’re very tangible issues,” said Shant Apekian, CAA’s vice president of public affairs.
“We believe the core principles that we need to rally behind are good jobs, great schools and a more transparent, efficient government that people can rely on,” Olsen said.
9 bills landlords should care about
Apekian and Debra Carlton, CAA’s senior vice president of public affairs, provided the audience with a primer on the highest-stakes bills for the rental housing industry, including one bill sponsored by CAA. SB 761 by Sen. Isadore Hall, D-Los Angeles, ultimately would compell short-term vacation rental companies to alert tenants that subletting may violate their leases and could even get them evicted.
Short-term rental websites such as Airbnb would need to post such notices on their websites, and tenants would have to indicate they understand them before proceeding to list units.
Apekian reminded attendees that rental agreements should prohibit subletting for a number of reasons. For example, short-term subtenants can pose a security risk, take up an inordinate number of parking spaces, cause nuisances and even increase the property owners’ liability.
Carlton went on to address problems with Assembly Bill 697, which would cap rent increases for qualifying seniors in communities with rent control. You read that right: This is “rent control on rent control,” as Apekian put it.
Already, the typical allowable rent boost in these communities is minimal – in some cases less than 1 percent. Moreover, the program would be difficult, time-consuming and costly for property owners to administer.
Besides hearing about top-priority bills, participants received a rundown on the political dynamics in the state Legislature, courtesy of Rick Rivas, director of public affairs for the Civil Justice Association of California.
As part of his presentation, Rivas offered insights on the political implications of changing demographics in California over the coming decades.
After lunch, landlords and other industry leaders headed to the Capitol to speak with legislators about proposals relevant to the apartment business and to reiterate the vital role that apartments play in California’s growing economy.
In her address earlier that day, Olsen thanked the audience for taking the time to visit Sacramento.
“I am so impressed to see how many of you came from all across California to advocate for issues that really matter to you,” Olsen said. “There’s nothing more effective in really changing hearts and minds — and ultimately votes — than you being here and telling stories about what happens in your everyday world.”