News: COVID-19
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CAA-sponsored legislation to help both landlords and renters endure the financial difficulties brought on by COVID-19 is now in print.
Under SB 1410, the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program, 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.
Eligible renters for the temporary COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program would include those who can demonstrate, as determined by the Department of Housing and Community Development, an inability to pay rent due to COVID-19 or a government response… Read More
Tagged: COVID-19LegislationNews
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
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 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
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to give tenants a full year to cover rent that goes unpaid because of COVID-19.
An earlier version of the moratorium had a six-month pay-back deferral period.
The board also relaxed requirements that tenants show documentation of a COVID-19 related financial hardship, allowing renters to “self certify” their inability to pay rent.
The board also expanded its policies to cover not only unincorporated areas of L.A. County, but also any cities that have not imposed their own COVID-19 eviction moratoria. CAA is working to obtain a list of such cities,… Read More
Tagged: COVID-19 Los Angeles
A bill in response to COVID-19 would allow the courts to force rental property owners in California to reduce rents by 25%.
The bill, AB 828 by Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, also would force landlords to subsidize the rents of their tenants.
Assemblyman Phil Ting
Ting’s proposal ignores the robust rent and eviction controls already in place across California. It provides no assurances that landlords can collect rent, remove problem tenants, or get a fair hearing in the court system. Read CAA’s letter opposing AB 828 here.
Landlords can help CAA fight this bill by sending a letter to… Read More