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In 2016, housing policy emerged as a major focal point for the California Legislature.
For the rental housing industry, perhaps the most significant highlight was CAA’s successful sponsorship of four housing-production bills to ease California’s housing shortage.
When California fails to build enough housing, rent prices rise precipitously, leading to calls for onerous policies such as rent control.
The California Apartment Association’s webinar about new laws taking effect in 2017 is now available for replay — a free benefit to CAA members — and as a class that nonmembers can purchase.
CAA’s New Laws webinar, originally webcast Tuesday, Dec. 1, covers legislation that will affect:
Bedbug disclosures
All-gender bathrooms
Pesticide notices
Water submeters
The webinar also reviewed the impacts of other new laws, including the legalization of recreational marijuana use. Moreover, CAA’s public affairs experts reviewed the makeup of the California Legislature following the Nov. 8 election and new and revised CAA forms.
It’s not too late to… Read More
After garnering the governor’s signature, legislation that addresses how property owners and renters deal with bedbugs is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2017.
AB 551 by Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian aims to address the need for cooperation among landlords, tenants and pest control operators to successfully control bedbugs.
Early detection and reporting of bed bugs is an important component required for preventing bedbug infestations.
AB 551 requires specific notices and practices on the part of landlords and tenants.
Tagged: Bed bugsLegislation
Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian’s bedbug legislation, AB 551, has undergone a major overhaul after facing concerns by tenant groups that it may not be tough enough on property owners.
While the original version imposed protocols for bedbug eradication on landlords, tenants and pest control companies, the bill has been stripped of those provisions and now focuses on some basic duties.
After extensive meetings with both landlord and tenant groups over the summer in both Los Angeles and Sacramento, the bill will focus on:
Prohibiting landlords from leasing property that they know has a current bedbug infestation.
Encouraging tenants who suspect bedbugs… Read More
Tagged: Bed bugsLegislation
Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian’s bed bug legislation, AB 551, establishes protocols and duties for rental property owners and tenants to follow when bed bugs are identified in a rental unit.
All interested parties and members of the California Legislature worked diligently this year on the legislation. More work remains, however, before all interested parties are content with the final bill language. They have all vowed to continue their work in January.
As written, the bill would do a number of things:
Requirements for landlords
Requires use of Addendum to Rental Agreement (bed bug identification, importance of reporting promptly, tenant duties), like… Read More
Tagged: Bed bugsLegislation
Several bills that would affect the rental housing industry are a vote or two away from heading to the governor’s desk.
After the state Legislature returns Monday from its summer recess, they’ll likely take about two weeks to hold final hearings on the following CAA priority bills:
On the Senate floor
AB 447 (R-Maienschein) Insurance Discrimination – This bill would prohibit insurers from discriminating against a property owner who offers housing for tenants with Section 8 vouchers or who are in other low-income programs. The Senate floor vote is one of two final stops for this bill. If passed by… Read More
Tagged: Bed bugsLegislation
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
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
Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian’s bed bug legislation, AB 551, has won approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee. The full Senate is expected to take up the bill when the Legislature returns from its summer break. In the meantime, CAA will work with Nazarian to refine the proposal.
Nazarian, a Democrat from Van Nuys, authored the bill as bed bug infestations continue to spike both in California and across the United States.
Despite the spread of these bloodsucking pests, California law hasn’t adequately defined the role that apartment owners and renters must play in preventing and killing these bugs.
Nazarian’s bill addresses… Read More
Tagged: Bed bugs
A bill that spells out what landlords and tenants need to do when confronted with a bed bug infestation is closer to becoming California law.
The Assembly Judiciary Committee on Tuesday voted 7-0 in favor of Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian’s AB 551.
The proposal from the Van Nuys Democrat comes as bed bug infestations continue to spike both in California and across the United States.
Despite the spread of these bloodsucking pests, California law hasn’t adequately defined the role that apartment owners and renters must play in preventing and killing these bugs.
Nazarian’s bill addresses this by offering specifics. And it… Read More
Tagged: Bed bugsLegislation