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Multifamily properties in unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County are smoke-free as of Sunday, July 1. In March, the county Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the Contra Costa County Secondhand Smoke Ordinance, which prohibits smoking inside multifamily properties with two or more units. Although the ordinance takes effect July 1, property owners and operators have until July 1, 2019, to amend house rules and make the necessary transition to smoke-free housing before fines can be imposed. CAA Contra Costa does not oppose the efforts of local jurisdictions to promote smoke-free housing and protect residents from secondhand smoke. CAA Contra Costa… Read More

Tagged: Contra Costa

The Torrance City Council on Tuesday, May 15, kicked off the creation of a seismic-retrofit ordinance for the city’s building stock. The ordinance would include soft-story construction prior to 1997, including multifamily buildings. A staff report is available here.

Tagged: Long BeachLos Angeles

The California Apartment Association is closely monitoring a newly formed coalition that’s working to bring rent control to the city of Sacramento. The coalition, Housing4Sacramento, includes groups that champion tenant rights, organized labor, socialism and subsidized housing.

Tagged: Sacramento Valley

Tenant operatives are now attempting to repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act through a statewide ballot measure targeted for the November 2018 election. Signature gathering to qualify the initiative began after the state attorney general issued a title and summary for the measure, which you can find here. Qualifying the ballot measure for the fall became the focus of tenant groups in January after CAA and its allies defeated AB 1506, a bill that would have overturned Costa-Hawkins and brought extreme forms of rent control back to California. The bill fell just one vote shy of advancing to the Assembly… Read More

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As you consider prospective renters in 2018, remember that your applicant screening fee can only cover the expenses you incur in the process. This includes the actual money spent gathering information, as well as time spent by you or your staff. But no matter how much you pay for tenant screening, your fee to applicants may not exceed $49.12.

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The California Apartment Association is once again encouraging members with available units in Napa or Sonoma counties to contact CAA and consider making special considerations for fire victims. Special considerations may include offering reduced move-in costs or discounted deposits for those who lost their homes. CAA members with available units are asked to send an email to CAA.

Tagged: North Bay

Beginning next year, property management firms and other California employers will want to take a close look at the questions they ask of prospective hires. Under a pair of bills signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, some types of questions will be off-limits during certain portions of the hiring process.

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Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill that aims to ensure tenants know about any flood risk to residential property they are considering to rent. 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 will 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.

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A bill that would crack down on rental property owners who discriminate against tenants based on immigration status passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. The committee’s 5-2 approval of AB 291 on Tuesday means the bill, by Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, will likely head to the Senate floor within the next two weeks. The bill advanced to the Senate one month ago following approval by the full Assembly.

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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.

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