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Despite recent amendments, Sen. Mark Leno’s anti-Ellis Act bill remains an attack on landlords’ property rights as it heads to its first Assembly committee Wednesday, June 18. * Leno promised changes to SB 1439 on May 29 in a last-minute push to resuscitate the legislation, which failed the previous day on the Senate floor. The bill is now scheduled to be heard Wednesday by the Housing and Community Development Committee. The California Apartment Association vehemently opposes the amended bill, which still would force many rental property owners in San Francisco to wait at least five years before removing their units… Read More

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The California Apartment Association has helped remove the sticker shock from a bill intended to bring more electric-vehicle charging stations to multi-family parking lots. When AB 2565 was first introduced by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, D-Torrance, it would have required that rental property owners with more than 50 parking spaces dedicate at least 1 percent of the spots to electric vehicles — and pay to install the equipment. The cost is roughly $6,500 to $15,000 per station. Following negotiations between all interested parties, however, the bill would now require that tenants both request and pay for charging stations – and related… Read More

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CAA has changed its position on a bill that encourages gardening on rental properties after the author weeded out some problematic elements of the legislation. Originally, AB 2561 by Assemblyman Steven Bradford, D-Gardena, would have forced landlords to allow tenants to participate in gardening in portable containers in private areas of rentals. This included balconies, where potted plants can drip water onto units and patios below, causing a nuisance to neighbors. CAA members worried about possible water damage and pests.  Following extensive negotiations, however, the assemblyman agreed to all of the California Apartment Association’s requested changes, prompting CAA this week… Read More

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On July 1, California’s minimum wage will increase from $8 to $9 an hour. It will increase again on Jan. 1, 2016, to $10/hour. These are the first increases since 2008. The lodging credit, which may be used to meet the minimum wage obligation for employees required to live on-site, will also increase. Minimum wage Lodging credit (one person) Lodging credit (couple) Current $8 $451.89 $668.46 July 1, 2014 $9 $508.38 $752.02 Jan. 1, 2016 $10 $564.81 $835.49 If you are paying minimum wage or using the lodging credit, update your agreement today. While you are automatically required to pay… Read More

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As the halfway point of 2014 approaches, the California Apartment Association has accomplished much in the legislative arena, yet much work lies ahead. Friday was a milestone of sorts in the Legislative calendar, marking the deadline for bills to pass out of their house of origin. In other words, as of midnight May 30, Senate bills had to pass the Senate, and Assembly bills had to pass the Assembly. Bills that survived now go to the opposite house. Those that didn’t are dead. Below, you’ll find the status of some key bills for the rental housing industry. Let’s start with… Read More

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A bill that threatened to strip landlords of their right to leave the rental housing business failed on the Senate floor Wednesday, May 28, thanks largely to fierce opposition by the California Apartment Association. SB 1439 by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, garnered 18 yes votes but needed 21 to advance from the Senate to the Assembly. While Leno can ask for a new vote through Friday, his chances of resuscitating the bill are meager. To defeat Leno’s bill, CAA lobbied heavily at the Capitol, launched an educational website for the public and spearheaded a letter-writing campaign that prompted hundreds… Read More

Tagged: San Francisco Apartment Association

The California Apartment Association threw a charity gala in May, raising tens of thousands of dollars to help homeless families in Orange County. CAA’s South Coast Division hosted the event Wednesday, May 21, at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. The gala supported Orange County United Way’s efforts to move homeless families into stable, permanent rental housing. “CAA-South Coast was proud to partner this year with the Rapid Rehousing Initiative in order to help families in our community,” said Melinda Graham, chairwoman of CAA-South Coast. “Our inaugural gala demonstrated the commitment that our members have to this community. CAA is determining… Read More

Tagged: Orange County

The California Apartment Association is asking Inland Empire members with properties in Moreno Valley to contact the city regarding its nearly five-fold increase in fire inspection fees. The fees, now $36 per unit, marks a 450 percent increase and could leave some members paying more than $9,000 for fire inspections. A couple of CAA members recently received notices of the higher fees and informed CAA. The fire inspection ordinance took effect in January. “We immediately reached out to city officials, including the fire marshal, and engaged with them,” said Tim Johnson, executive director CAA’s Inland Empire Division, or CAA-AAGIE. “We’re… Read More

Tagged: Greater Inland Empire

Bad public policy? In Los Angeles, we’re putting a cork in it. While lifting a few wineglasses, about 120 friends of the California Apartment Association helped CAA’s work to keep poor political candidates out of office and get good ones elected. It all came together April 30 at the Annenberg Beach House in Santa Monica, where CAA’s Los Angeles  division held its inaugural “Cork & Sand” event. The political fundraiser brought in about $53,000, and all proceeds will benefit CAA LA’s Political Action Committee. The committee creates a positive business environment for the multi-family housing industry in Los Angeles by… Read More

Tagged: Los Angeles

Before throngs of rental housing professionals headed to the state Capitol, the Capitol’s top elected official headed to them. For more than 30 minutes Tuesday, Gov. Jerry Brown captivated a crowd at the Sacramento Convention Center, telling stories about his wide-ranging political history, offering observations about current challenges in California government and looking ahead to a possible fourth term as governor. Brown served as keynote speaker at the California Apartment Association’s annual Legislative Conference. He and Assemblyman Tom Daly, D-Anaheim, delivered talks that primed the crowd for an afternoon of meetings with legislators on bills important to the rental housing… Read More

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