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An effort to place rent control before Santa Ana voters this November has entered the signature-gathering phase. The city attorney for Santa Ana recently gave petitioners the green light to begin circulating a petition for a measure titled the City of Santa Ana Rent Stabilization and Renters’ Rights Act. The title and summary is accessible here. Tenant advocates filed the initiative with the city clerk in April and have been working for some time to launch their signature-gathering campaign.

Tagged: Orange County

Less than a year after voters rejected rent control in Santa Rosa, tenant activists are attempting to return the issue to the ballot box. Efforts are now underway to qualify a rent control and “just cause” eviction measure for city’s the November 2018 ballot. Spearheading the initiative campaign is the North Bay Organizing Project, which needs to collect at least 8,985 valid signatures from registered Santa Rosa voters by July 6 to qualify the measure for this fall’s general election. The proposed measure, accessible here, would limit rent increases to the inflation rate, impose strict eviction controls, establish strict guidelines… Read More

Tagged: North Bay

Question: I have a resident who moved in this last month. I have had a lot of noise complaints about him from other residents. I have also issued three warning notices for noise and the cleaning of this patio. He has a one-year lease. What can I do? Answer: If the disturbances rise to the level of a public or private nuisance (major, continuous disturbances to neighbors), then you could serve a Three-Day Notice to Quit based upon the nuisance.

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An Assembly bill would dramatically prolong the eviction process, endanger renters who complain about their neighbors, and allow tenants to avoid eviction by making frivolous complaints. Under 2343 by Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, landlords would have to provide 10 days’ notice before serving eviction papers to tenants who’ve failed to pay the rent. At any time during this 10-day period, the tenant could pay the rent to prevent eviction. At present, the notice requirement is three days. This extension would essentially shift rent due dates to the middle of the month. For tenants who have committed serious lease violations,… Read More

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After hours of public testimony and debate, the San Jose City Council on Tuesday voted to eliminate RUBS in rent-controlled housing. RUBS is short for ratio-utility-billing systems, which some property owners use to divide utility bills among tenants based on the number of renters in the building or square footage. At Tuesday’s meeting, the council also approved changes to the city’s “just cause” eviction ordinance and an ordinance related to the Ellis Act. The council is expected to formally approve the changes with a another reading of the ordinances May 8.

Tagged: Tri-County

Rent control activists submit signatures to qualify initiative With a Costa-Hawkins repeal measure expected to qualify for November’s ballot, the California Apartment Association has launched a full-fledged campaign to defeat the initiative and prevent extreme rent control from returning to California. The CAA-led  Californians for Responsible Housing has unveiled the “Stop the Housing Freeze” campaign and companion website NoHousingFreeze.org. The name of the CAA-led anti-repeal campaign and website reflect the certain impact of overturning Costa-Hawkins. Without Costa-Hawkins, cities will apply rent control to single-family homes and new multifamily housing and allow for permanent rent caps, even after changes in tenancy.… Read More

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Question: My question concerns residents who deposit their check in the rent drop box after the due date. The lease provides that rent is due on the first and if it is not received by the fourth it is considered late, and a $25 late fee is imposed. On the morning of the fifth, the rent drop is emptied and any checks received after that time are deemed to be late. Each month there are a few residents who put an earlier date on the rent check and drop it in after the fourth. How should we respond to this… Read More

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The California Apartment Association has formed a coalition of housing advocacy groups to defeat a draconian rent control and “just cause” eviction measure proposed for the city of Sacramento. The coalition, Citizens for Affordable Housing, will raise dollars to educate voters on the serious flaws of the proposed Sacramento Renter Protection and Community Stabilization Charter Amendment. In addition, the coalition will work with local housing providers and the city of Sacramento on solutions to increase access to affordable housing for everyone in our community.

Tagged: Sacramento Valley

On Monday, April 23, signatures were submitted to qualify an initiative for the November 2018 ballot that would hurt owners of rental housing throughout California. The Housing Freeze would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, opening the door for permanent price caps on what owners can charge for rent on their properties. The California Apartment Association encourages its members to sign up today to join the campaign opposed to this initiative. The Housing Freeze’s sponsor, Michael Weinstein, has an extensive history of fighting against new housing and opposing renters. He has spent more than $2 million to put this initiative… Read More

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In response to storms and flooding last month, Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday proclaimed a state of emergency that covers most of the Central Valley. Brown’s declaration activates the state’s anti-price gouging law, which bans rent increases exceeding 10 percent while a state of emergency is in effect. The declaration was issued for Amador, Fresno, Kern, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties.

Tagged: Greater FresnoIncome Property Assn. of Kern