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CAA has begun its campaign against a bill that’s back from last year and could help tenants drag out evictions without paying a penny.
Assembly Bill 969 by Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, would make it easier for tenants delay evictions in a number of ways — such as claiming retaliation by a landlord and encouraging disgruntled tenants to pursue jury trials.
Although successfully opposed by CAA in 2013, the legislation was later designated as a two-year bill. This allowed Ammiano to revive it as the second half of the 2013-14 legislative session, which began this week.
Ammiano’s AB 969, amended… Read More
Tagged: LegislationLegislature
To succeed in your rental housing business, you need to understand the laws taking effect in January.
With this in mind, the California Apartment Association will offer the following webinar: “2014: New Laws Impacting California.”
Laws coming on line will govern the way you respond to domestic violence victims, how you screen prospective residents and more.
In addition to new laws, the course will cover proposals pending in the Legislature that could move to the governor later in the year.
The course, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, is free to CAA members and $45 for non… Read More
Tagged: EducationLegislationWebinar
Newer stories
Reminder: Long-lasting-smoke-alarm law takes effect July 1
More time granted in smoke detector law
Working detectors probably won’t need immediate replacement
Under a law taking effect Jan. 1, 2014, you’ll need to install smoke detectors that can keep working on the same battery for 10 years or more.
But chances are, you won’t have to do it yet.
You only need to install the 10-year battery models when:
A current detector isn’t working.
Work is done to a unit requiring a permit – and when the value of the work totals $1,000 or more.
In 2016, more requirements… Read More
SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Mike Gatto joined the California Apartment Association for dinner Wednesday, Oct. 23, before making a presentation on his political philosophy, the 2013 legislative session and what to expect next year.
Gatto, D-Burbank, spoke for about a half-hour during the dinner, held at Mulvaney’s B&L in Midtown on the eve of the CAA Board of Directors Meeting.
An apartment owner himself in Southern California, Gatto shared one litmus test he uses to evaluate legislation.
“If there’s ever a bill that really, really hurts one person, chances are it’s not a good piece of legislation,” he said.
Gatto also… Read More
At the California Apartment Association, we advocated for and against dozens of bills this year that could affect the rental housing business.
In most cases, Gov. Jerry Brown agreed with us.
While some bills below will affect multi-family housing more than others, each is important to landlords, tenants, and California as a whole.
Check out the following roundup of laws taking effect in 2014, their anticipated impacts, and where CAA stood on them.
Subdivision Maps: Extensions — AB 116 (D-Bocanegra) — CAA position:
Support — Like other legislation before it, AB 116 extends the life of expiring subdivision maps by… Read More
Update: On Sunday, Oct. 13, Gov. Brown vetoed Assemblywoman Toni Atkins’ inclusionary zoning bill, AB 1229. The story below was published earlier this month.
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Right or wrong, the specter of rent control has hovered over AB 1229.
Owners of existing rental property, however, shouldn’t sweat it.
Toni Atkins’ inclusionary zoning bill, which remains on Gov. Brown’s desk, wouldn’t change a thing for landlords with property in either rent-control or non-rent-control jurisdictions.
The bill centers on a method for requiring affordable housing in new construction projects and would reaffirm a tool that more than 170 jurisdictions have used to provide… Read More
Southern California lawmakers and rental housing VIPs gathered in San Diego on Friday, Sept. 27, to discuss this year’s action in Sacramento, share a meal and mingle.
It all happened during two lively hours as the California Apartment Association-San Diego held its first Legislative District Leadership Breakfast at the Westgate Hotel.
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, who represents the 80th District, said she strives to keep the needs of both renters and property owners top of mind.
“Obviously, as renters, we care about the rights of our tenants and being able to live in places that are nice and where they can… Read More
Tagged: LeadershipLegislation
Sen. Lois Wolk’s water submetering bill sank this year, but it’ll likely resurface in 2014.
With some success at the negotiating table, it has a good chance of passing, too.
SB 750 got close this year. But by the end of the legislative session, loose ends and disagreements about the bill’s wording had it taking on water.
When Wolk introduced the bill in early February, she said it would help Californians “make environmentally and economically responsible choices and that they needed accurate information about their water usage and cost so that they can use existing supplies as efficiently as possible.”… Read More
Tagged: LegislationOur Positions
In 2013, lawmakers derailed threatening bills to the rental housing industry and other business sectors.
Some of the bills left floundering focused on parcel taxes, spit roll property taxes and putting tax hikes before voters.
For example, here are two bills that CAA opposed and help put on ice until at least next year:
AB 59 (D-Bonta) – Parcel Taxes – The intent of AB 59 is to overturn a recent court case that prohibits school districts from imposing different parcel tax rates on different types of property. If passed, AB 59 would allow school districts to impose different parcel… Read More
Tagged: AdvocacyLegislationTaxes
Although untidy, the used mattresses strewn in front of the Capitol earlier this month sent a rather neat message: It’s time to put a tired old eyesore to bed.
The California Apartment Association, lawmakers and other stakeholders spoke in support of Senate Bill 254, which targets abandoned mattresses left in vacated apartments, dumped on the side of the road or other places that beds don’t belong.
SB 254, now on the governor’s desk, would create a nonprofit mattress-recycling organization to make sure discarded mattresses are collected, dismantled and recycled for new products.
Debra Carlton, senior vice president of public affairs… Read More
Tagged: AdvocacyLegislation