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A bill signed by Gov. Brown this week gives survivors of human trafficking the right to terminate residential leases to protect themselves against their abusers. The law also strengthens existing protections for survivors of domestic violence who are forced to vacate a rental property for their personal safety. Authored by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, SB 612 allows a tenant to precipitate the move-out process by providing the landlord with a written report, prepared by a medical provider, declaring that abuse occurred. This increases protections for victims of crimes including domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, elder or dependent abuse, and… Read More

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The city of Los Angeles may soon begin a study to inventory “soft story” apartment buildings — ones in which the ground floor may not be strong enough to support upper levels during a major earthquake, the L.A Times reported Wednesday, Aug. 21. Locating and counting these vulnerable structures could lay the groundwork for an eventual proposal to require seismic retrofitting on soft story buildings in L.A. The push comes as the 20-year anniversary of the Northridge quake approaches. The 1994 temblor destroyed or seriously damaged roughly 200 soft story buildings, according to the Times story. If Los Angeles ultimately… Read More

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The California Apartment Association would like to thank Fresno-area members who are helping residents bounce back after a fire at Scottsmen Apartments in Clovis. The July 30 fire destroyed 18 units and displaced 40 residents, according to this article in the Fresno Bee. In response to an email from CAA soliciting assistance, the following members stepped up: Clovis Apartment Group ConAm Management Corporation Fox Property Management GSF Properties, Inc. Manco Abbott, Inc. Omninet Property Management Robert L. Jensen & Associates Royal T Management San Mar Properties, Inc. Vandenberghe Management Westco Equities, Inc. Winn Residential These companies helped displaced tenants in… Read More

Tagged: Greater Fresno

The California Apartment Association and Vallejo Fire Department have extinguished some confusion over the city’s new Fire and Life Safety inspection program. After notifying property owners in mid-January that annual inspections would begin, the Vallejo Fire Department began the checkups on multifamily residences this past spring. The Vallejo Fire Department had not conducted fire inspections in more than 15 years, and most small-income property owners had no idea what to expect. Moreover, the Fire Department hadn’t told owners they could schedule and be present for the inspection. Instead, fire inspectors began arriving unannounced and listed violations in poor handwriting that… Read More

Tagged: Contra CostaSolano

More than 100 local CAA Greater Fresno members attended a seminar this month that focused on how members can help reduce crime, boost safety and prepare for emergencies. During a Ready Properties seminar June 11, the local American Red Cross “Be Ready” team (Katrina Poitras, Cayce Baierski and Sandra Santiago-Pinheiro) shared information on preparing a disaster kit, coping after a disaster and dealing with the aftermath of fires at multifamily properties. Also at the event, held at UC Center Fresno, Lt. Dave Newton of the Fresno Police Department talked about an app called “Nextdoor,” which may benefit rental housing professionals… Read More

Tagged: Greater Fresno