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A pair of bills that would hinder both the creation and protection of housing along California’s coastline are off the table for the remainder of 2017.
AB 663 by Assemblyman Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica, would give the state’s Coastal Commission control of housing policies in coastal areas, stripping that power from local governments.
The other bill, AB 1129 by Assemblyman Mark Stone, D-Santa Cruz, would prevent many coastal property owners from reinforcing their buildings against rising sea levels and erosion.
Tagged: Legislation
Question: Is there a mandatory, minimum, type size for leases?
Answer: No, but the larger the font size, the better. Also, if you have an automatic lease renewal provision, it must be in at least 8-point font and bolded.
Tagged: ColumnsComplianceLegal Q&A
On a 5-1 vote, the Anaheim City Council on Tuesday rejected a proposal that would have required the installation of expensive firefighting equipment in new high-rises, including multifamily housing.
The proposal called for firefighter air-replenishment systems in new buildings taller than 75 feet.
Such systems are designed to provide rapid air-refilling capabilities to firefighters’ breathing tanks, however, there is no guarantee that the devices make buildings any safer.
Tagged: News Orange County
The Walnut Creek City Council on Tuesday voted to ban marijuana smoking in city apartments.
Tagged: Smoking Contra Costa
Instead of imposing rent control or just-cause policies, the city of South Pasadena will work on strengthening its mediation program for landlord-tenant disputes.
The South Pasadena City Council on Wednesday voted unanimously to adopt this more sensible approach to handling renter grievances, following a recommendation from the city’s Ad Hoc Committee on Rent Stabilization.
All three housing-production bills sponsored by CAA this year have now won approval in the state Assembly and have advanced to the Senate, taking them roughly halfway to the governor’s desk.
The latest victory for CAA-sponsored bills came May 30, as the Assembly passed AB 943 by Assemblyman Miguel Santiago, D-Los Angeles. This bill would raise the voter threshold for passing no-growth measures in California cities.
The California Apartment Association is asking members who own or manage property in San Mateo County to take a survey and offer their thoughts on the local rental housing market and fair housing issues.
Taking part in the survey will help San Mateo County complete its “Assessment of Fair Housing Report,” which it must submit to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development later this year.
Tagged: Fair Housing Tri-County
After a strong grassroots campaign by the California Apartment Association and its allies, Santa Rosa’s rent control and just-cause eviction measure went down in defeat Tuesday.
The people of Santa Rosa rejected Measure C with 52.5 percent of the vote, compared with 47.5 percent in favor of rent control.
“Voters understood that Measure C would have come at high costs while assisting only a fraction of the population,” said Joshua Howard, CAA’s senior vice president for Northern California. “Now, Santa Rosa can focus on the real solution to its housing crisis — building more homes.”
A bill approved by the Assembly this week aims to make sure tenants are made aware of flooding risks before leasing rental properties in flood-prone areas.
Under AB 646 by Assemblyman Ash Kalra, D-San Jose, a landlord with “actual knowledge” that his or her property is in a flood-hazard area would have to disclose this information to prospective tenants. Property owners with actual knowledge include those notified by a government agency, as well as owners required to carry flood insurance for the property.
Tagged: Legislation
Amid a sharp rise in Los Angeles County’s homeless population, the California Apartment Association this week reaffirmed its commitment to helping people secure permanent housing.
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority reported that the number of homeless individuals in the county increased to 58,000. That represents a 23 percent spike in the annual survey.