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Several Northern California counties this week extended their shelter-in-place orders while loosening certain rules that affect rental housing.
The revised orders lift some restrictions on certain low-risk activities, including construction, outdoor businesses, and residential moves.
The health officers for Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Francisco and Marin counties, plus the city of Berkeley, issued new orders Wednesday. These orders take effect May 4, after the current health orders expire.
The new orders will allow housing construction to proceed with certain safety protocols. Previously, housing projects in the seven jurisdictions could only continue if 10% of the units… Read More
Tagged: COVID-19
CAA members have flooded the inboxes of state lawmakers with requests that they reject a bill that would allow the California courts to cut rents by 25%.
More than 55,000 messages have gone to members of the Senate and Assembly, part of a grassroots public affairs campaign by the California Apartment Association. The messages urged no votes on AB 828 by Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco. They came from rental housing providers, vendors that serve the industry, and attorneys who practice landlord-tenant law.
“While I understand that the COVID-19 pandemic has created a great deal of uncertainty for many Californians,… Read More
On May 1, tenant activists are expected to make good on their threat to start rent strikes in California and elsewhere in the United States.
Groups are calling on tenants to withhold rent, even those who have suffered no financial hardships from the COVID-19 pandemic. These groups also are calling for property owners to cancel rent for all tenants, regardless of need.
Some of the California Apartment Association’s largest members have received letters demanding that these companies either agree to the activists’ terms or face a national housing strike effective May. 1.
CAA recognizes that some tenants may be unable… Read More
Tagged: News
The California Apartment Association today vowed to fight anti-housing activist Michael Weinstein’s efforts to have Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature suspend the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, California’s most important landlord-protection law.
CAA is preparing to mobilize its members to oppose any suspension of Costa-Hawkins, which would allow vacancy controls and authorize cities and counties to limit rent increases — even below the rate of inflation — on single-family homes, condominiums and apartments built after 1995.
Vacancy controls would keep local rent caps in place during changes in tenancy, preventing units from reaching market rates.
Although Weinstein claims his proposal… Read More
Tagged: Costa-HawkinsCOVID-19News
Small businesses suffering financial hardships due to COVID-19, including the rental housing industry and companies that serve that industry, will soon get another chance to obtain loans under the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.
Congress on Thursday approved a $484 billion stimulus plan that includes about $380 billion to replenish the PPP, which ran out of money last week, just days after its debut.
The PPP aims to help businesses with 500 or fewer employees, including sole proprietors, independent contractors and people who are self-employed, by providing a forgivable loan of… Read More
Tagged: COVID-19
Tom Bannon
Mike Nemeth
In CAA’s inaugural podcast, association CEO Tom Bannon talks with Communication Director Mike Nemeth about the Legislature’s response to COVID-19, including a bill that would allow judges to mandate 25% rent reductions, and another bill that would address tenant and landlord concerns through rental assistance vouchers.
Listen here
Tagged: COVID-19
The California Apartment Association has challenged the city of Santa Ana and Contra Costa County for violating the Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act.
Both jurisdictions, citing tenant hardships caused by COVID-19, imposed bans on rent increases, however, these prohibitions conflict with state law. The Santa Ana rent freeze applies to all tenants and all housing, regardless of housing type or age. The Contra Costa County ban failed to exempt newer units, which is a required under Costa-Hawkins.
These moves violate Costa-Hawkins, which prohibits local governments from imposing rent control on single-family homes and condominiums and on apartments built after 1995.… Read More
Tagged: News Contra CostaOrange County
The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday rejected several items that posed threats to California’s rental housing industry, including a move that would have violated the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act.
On a 7-6 vote, the council:
Rejected an extension of the city’s freeze on rent increases to property shielded from local rent control laws under Costa-Hawkins. The city attorney warned the council that such an action would violate state law. The council also voted against extending the rent freeze to properties covered under Assembly Bill 1482, the statewide rent cap law that went into effect Jan. 1.
Rejected an attempt… Read More
The California Apartment Association this week sponsored a legislative proposal that would help both landlords and renters endure the financial difficulties brought on by COVID-19.
Under SB 1410 by Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach, the state of California would make direct rental payments to help tenants who cannot afford to pay their rent. SB 1410 would cover at least 80% of unpaid rent attributable to the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought frightening and uncertain times, leaving many Californians with health challenges and economic difficulties,” said Debra Carlton, CAA’s executive vice president for state public affairs. “Sen. Gonzalez has offered… Read More
Tagged: COVID-19Legislature
The San Jose City Council next week is expected to consider an ordinance that would freeze rents on all rent-controlled units for the rest of the year.
At this week’s meeting, the council directed the city attorney to return Tuesday, April 21, with an ordinance that:
Freezes rents on all rent-controlled units until Dec. 31, 2020.
Clarifies that it is not a service reduction if a landlord reduces amenities to comply with a public health order.
Waives building/repair maintenance permit fees for rental properties under 20 units.
Allows a landlord to lower rents and maintain the higher base rent for… Read More
Tagged: COVID-19News Tri-County