News: California Apartment Association
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A bill that would remove local barriers to adding second units on residential lots passed its first hurdle in the Senate this week.
The Senate’s Transportation and Housing Committee on Tuesday approved AB 2299 by Assemblyman Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica, on a 7-0 vote with four abstentions.
Under AB 2299, local governments would have to allow the construction of second units that meet specific standards and are within one-half mile of public transportation.
The bill, sponsored by the California Apartment Association, now heads to the Committee on Governance and Finance.
AB 2299 is one of four CAA-sponsored housing production bills… Read More
Tagged: Affordable housingLegislation
Facing opposition led by CAA, an inclusionary-housing bill failed to get off the Assembly floor by Thursday’s deadline, but it’s still alive.
AB 2502 by Assemblyman Kevin Mullin, D-South San Francisco, lacked the needed votes to advance to the Senate. So instead of taking a vote, the bill was referred back to the Committee on Local Government. This unusual move keeps the bill alive, although it’s unclear whether the committee will take it up again.
Mullin’s bill would allow cities and counties to force below-market rate housing in new rental developments.
It would overturn the Palmer v. Los Angeles court… Read More
Tagged: Affordable housingLegislation
The California Apartment Association has urged the state Legislature to stop providing funding for defense attorneys to help evicted tenants drag out the unlawful-detainer process.
The practice has occured for several years under a state law that CAA believes should expire in 2017.
Under the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act, defense attorneys receive money from the state to represent low-income Californians in a variety of legal areas, from evictions to custody disputes. Since 2011, the Legislature has spent $9.5 million annually on the program in seven areas across the state.
While the concept is laudable, it’s rife with abuse when… Read More
Tagged: EvictionsLegislature
A court brief filed by the California Apartment Association has led a plaintiff to give up her argument that Section 8 recipients are a protected class under California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act.
In Morris v. Sacramento Manor, the tenancy was terminated when the owner decided to stop participating in the Section 8 program.
The tenant argued that Section 8 recipients should be considered a new protected class under the Unruh Act’s prohibition against any arbitrary discrimination.
On Feb, 23, 2016, CAA filed a brief in the Appellate Division of the Sacramento Superior Court supporting Sacramento Manor’s right to pull out… Read More
Once again, the San Mateo City Council has rejected a rent control proposal — this time in the form of an onerous relocation-assistance program.
The City Council’s decision Monday came after three hours of public testimony from local property owners, managers and real estate professionals about the dangers of the proposal.
The relocation-assistance ordinance would have forced rental housing providers to keep rent increases below 10 percent or face paying up to $21,500 for residents to vacate the unit – even after the end of a lease term.
“This proposal takes from one group and gives to another; taking rights… Read More
CAA has expressed concerns in a letter to the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment about the office’s proposed changes to regulations interpreting the state law commonly referred to as Proposition 65.
OEHHA’s proposed changes to Proposition 65 warning requirements would force rental housing owners and managers to replace all existing warning materials and signs to avoid litigation. The California Apartment Association outlined its concerns to OEHHA last month.
To date, more than 73,000 metal and plastic warning signs have been provided by CAA to its members.
Moreover, the changes would not provide more useful or meaningful warnings for housing… Read More
Tagged: Proposition 65
A law in Hesperia that allows the police chief to order the eviction of tenants from rental housing violates the U.S. Constitution, the California Apartment Association says in a letter to the city.
The police chief’s eviction authority is part of Hesperia’s Crime Free Rental Housing ordinance, a pilot program that took effect Jan. 1.
The ordinance also requires criminal background screenings, conducted by the Police Department, for all prospective tenants and mandates registration and inspection of all covered properties as well as the use a of crime-free addendum.
“Unfortunately, compliance guidance is impossible to provide as many key provisions… Read More
With the support of CAA, the San Jose City Council formed an advisory group to explore possible changes to the city’s rent control ordinance.
Creation of the advisory group came Tuesday by a 9-2 vote and establishes a task force with both rental property owners and tenants who will seek sensible solutions to address the calls to amend San Jose’s rent control ordinance. The decision marks a victory for property owners that was overlooked in much of today’s media coverage.
The newly formed advisory committee will meet in public over the next few months to review information and consider possible… Read More
Tagged: Rent Control Tri-County
In partnership with the California Apartment Association, Energy Upgrade California has developed tips for saving energy and money while making homes more comfortable.
As a property owner or manager, do your part for energy conservation — and help your tenants save on their power bills — by distributing “A Renter’s Guide to Saving Energy: Manage Your Energy Use and Save Money!”
The flier includes a list of eight tips for saving electricity. These suggestions cover everything from washing clothes in cold water to using curtains or blinds to shade living spaces from intense sunlight.
The list also gets into the… Read More
Tagged: News
When the state Legislature returns next month from its summer recess, lawmakers will have plenty of important bills to tackle.
Many of these proposals address big issues for the rental housing industry, from seismic retrofitting to conserving water to preventing unauthorized subletting.
Below you’ll find a list of 10 priority bills that are still in the legislative pipeline and a summary of what they would do. These bills are among the 54 bills that the California Apartment Association has either lobbied for or against in 2015.
Earthquakes
AB 428 (D-Nazarian) – Seismic Retrofit: Tax Credits – This bill would allow… Read More
Tagged: Legislation