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As California lawmakers return from a month-long summer recess, they’ll get right to work on legislation relevant to the rental housing industry.
On Monday, the Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to take up a few housing-production bills supported by the California Apartment Association, including the following:
AB 2180 (D-Ting) proposes to expedite the building permit process by shortening the number of days that a local government must take to approve a new housing project.
AB 2208 (D-Santiago) would require that, before construction, rooftops of public buildings be offered to private or nonprofit developers for the construction of affordable housing.
AB… Read More
The California Apartment Association is a partner in the Housing Our Heroes program, which has helped more than 200 homeless veterans find rental housing since the program debuted in San Diego on March 1.
So far, 130 landlords are taking part in the program, which offers financial incentives.
“Really the bottom line is the ‘Housing Our Heroes’ campaign is making a difference in veterans’ lives, and entire families are making their way off the streets,” Mayor Kevin Faulconer said in this news release. “Our heroes don’t need to spend another night on the street.”
Related content:
Mayor encourages homeless veterans… Read More
Members of the California Apartment Association have come together once again to help some of Los Angeles’ most vulnerable residents.
On Thursday, July 21, CAA Los Angeles held its second annual Summer Soirée, a rooftop networking event that raises money to benefit the homeless.
About 140 people attended Summer Soirée, enjoying an evening of live music, food, drinks and exceptional networking.
Proceeds from the event go to Home For Good, an initiative of United Way of Greater Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce that seeks to end chronic and veteran homelessness.
This year’s Summer Soirée raised… Read More
Question: I am renting a single-family dwelling to three individuals, each of whom submitted a separate application but want to all be listed on the rental agreement. How do I fill out a month-to-month agreement?
Answer: Have them all sign the same agreement. That way, they would be jointly and severally liable under the lease.
Question: Several weeks ago, during a wind storm, a large tree fell on my tenant’s car. The tenant thinks I am responsible for the damages, but my insurance company says I am not.
Answer: Unless you were negligent in the way you maintained the tree,… Read More
Tagged: ColumnsComplianceLegal Q&A
The number of cities with rent control measures going on the November ballot continued to grow this week as election officials certified an initiative in San Mateo.
Tenant advocates in San Mateo had turned in more than 11,000 signatures in support of rent control and just-cause eviction policies. To qualify, 7,119 valid signatures were required.
Other Bay Area cities where rent control measures have qualified for the November election include Richmond, Alameda and Mountain View. Election officials are still reviewing a ballot measure proposed for Burlingame.
The California Apartment Association is committed to defeating rent control proposals wherever they arise.… Read More
For years, the California Apartment Association has pushed for a fair and cost-effective bill that governs water submeters in new apartment construction while allowing owners to pass along associated costs to tenants.
CAA is optimistic that, after more work, Senate Bill 7 may fulfill these goals, ultimately saving precious water in a state that continues to face challenges with lack of rainfall.
SB 7 by Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, includes provisions to clarify how multifamily property owners can charge tenants for water use, and it allows for late fees and eviction when tenants don’t pay their bills.
Submeters gauge water… Read More
Tagged: LegislationWater conservation
California law generally allows the owner to terminate a month-to month tenancy on 30 or 60 days notice, depending on how long the residents have lived there. By contrast, a fixed-term lease can only be terminated by the owner on three days’ notice for cause. Depending on the reason, the notice may include an opportunity to cure – such as the three-day notice to pay rent or quit. Notices of termination frequenty generate questions for CAA’s Landlord Helpline. Some recent questions:
IS SERVICE OF A 30- OR 60-DAY NOTICE CONSIDERED “EVICTION?”
No. These notices terminated a tenancy as allowed by… Read More
Tagged: Compliance
The California Apartment Association urges its members to attend a workshop on rent control next week in Concord.
The city of Concord is presenting this public event, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 27, at the Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Circle.
The workshop will include a panel discussion on rent control for elected officials, city staff and the community.
Speakers will provide an overview of rental conditions within Concord, as well as the greater Bay Area.
The panel will include representatives from both CAA and Tenants Together. Kenneth Baar, renowned expert on rent control and author of… Read More
Tagged: NewsRent Control Contra Costa
Update: A permanent rent control and just-cause eviction measure are now on the Aug. 16 agenda for the council’s consideration.
Although Santa Rosa passed a just-cause for eviction ordinance Tuesday night, the council failed to garner the five votes needed to enact the ordinance immediately.
Facing opposition from the California Apartment Association, an effort to impose the policy on the city’s entire rental housing stock also fell short.
Just-cause policies require rental property owners to prove “cause” in court or before a political body every time they need to remove a problem resident.
Lacking the needed support for an urgency… Read More
Question: I purchased a building in which two of the three tenants do not have a deposit on file. Can I require a deposit for continuing tenancy?
Answer: If their lease agreement is month-to-month as opposed to a fixed-term lease, you can serve a 30-day notice changing the terms of the tenancy to require a deposit. If it is residential, your limit is twice the amount of the monthly rent if the unit is unfurnished.
Question: New tenants signed our lease and paid the first month’s rent. Now they want to get out of the lease. They did not take… Read More
Tagged: ColumnsComplianceLegal Q&A