News

Filter

For two new state senators, addressing California’s housing crisis has emerged as an early legislative priority. Shortly after being sworn in this month, Sens. Scott Wiener and Toni Atkins introduced separate bills to bolster the state’s affordable housing stock. Although still being fleshed out, Senate Bill 35 by Wiener, D-San Francisco, would encourage cities to approve residential developments, particularly those with affordable housing. In part, Wiener’s bill is based on Gov. Jerry Brown’s unsuccessful attempt to streamline the approval process, KQED reported. To defeat Brown’s plan, some opponents cited a loss of local control in vetting projects, and unions pointed… Read More

Tagged:

Despite objections from the California Apartment Association, the city of Concord has decided to increase the fees for its rental housing inspection program. The City Council adopted higher fees, more frequent inspections and other changes to its Multi-Family Housing Inspection Program during its Nov. 29 meeting.

Tagged: Contra Costa

The Sebastopol City Council on Tuesday extended its temporary rent control ordinance by six months. Under the Dec. 6 decision, all Sebastopol multifamily housing providers with units built before 1995 now face a 3 percent limit on annual rent increases until May 2017.

Tagged: North Bay

Question: One of my tenants has notified me that she has filed for bankruptcy. She has not paid her rent this month. Can I proceed with an eviction? Answer: Once a tenant files for bankruptcy, he or she will be entitled to an automatic “stay” of any legal proceedings against him or her.  This includes an unlawful-detainer action.  You will be required to file a motion for “relief from stay” before serving any notices or bringing an eviction action.

Tagged:

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

Tagged:

The Sebastopol City Council on Tuesday will decide whether to extend its temporary rent control ordinance by six months. If the council approves the extension, all Sebastopol multifamily housing providers with units built before 1995 will face a 3 percent limit on annual rent increases until May 2017. The California Apartment Association is calling on its members to attend the Dec. 6 meeting. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Sebastopol Youth Annex/Teen Center, 425 Morris St.

Tagged: North Bay

The Concord City Council this week rejected a proposal to temporarily cap rent increases at 3 percent per year. The urgency measure Tuesday received two yes votes but needed four to pass. The failure of the proposed 45-day rent-increase moratorium came amid a cooldown in the Bay Area’s rental housing market. In Concord, rents have recently dropped for one-bedroom and three-bedroom units. “I really can’t, in my heart, find the urgency issue citywide,” said Mayor Hoffmeister, as reported in this East Bay Times article. Concord staff will now look into creating a mediation program to help resolve disputes between tenants… Read More

Tagged: Contra Costa

Question: I had a police officer visit my rental office and request information such as Social Security numbers, addresses, and birth dates on three of my residents. I told him that I would be unable to provide this information, as it was confidential. Was I correct in denying a law enforcement officer this information? Answer: You did the right thing. California law protects against the disclosure of an individual’s information, based on the right to privacy. Therefore, if law enforcement is requesting information on a former or current tenant, management should not disclose any information absent a subpoena.

Tagged:

The California Apartment Association has updated its month-to-month rental agreement and lease agreement to address California’s legalization of recreational marijuana use. CAA added wording to these agreements to prohibit the smoking of marijuana in rental housing. Click here for an FAQ on the legalization of recreational marijuana, which came with the passage of Proposition 64 in the Nov. 8 election. The agreements also now contains provisions for banning the use of electronic cigarettes, also known as vaping, as well as a mandatory bedbug notice. These revisions, plus updates to several other forms, are in response to court cases, laws taking… Read More

Tagged:

CAA’s supplement to the 9th Edition of Managing Rental Housing has been updated to reflect laws and forms from both 2016 and 2017. Click the headline above to access it.

Tagged: