News: Mark Leno

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The California Apartment Association has stopped legislation that would have forced property owners to rent to Section 8 voucher holders. SB 1053 by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, would have made it unlawful to deny housing based on an applicant receiving Section 8 assistance. On Friday, the bill failed to move out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, effectively ending its chances of becoming law. CAA strongly encourages members who have the resources to accept Section 8 vouchers. Moreover, the Association will continue working with local housing authorities to ensure the program is efficient and effective, enticing more landlords to participate.… Read More

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Property owners would have to rent to Section 8 voucher holders under legislation proposed by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco. The California Apartment Association will oppose the legislation, SB 1053, which would make it unlawful to deny housing based on an applicant receiving Section 8 assistance. The voucher program requires that owners and operators abide by federal regulations that differ from state and local laws. Moreover, it forces owners to work with a third party, the local housing agency. Many owners and managers believe that local housing agencies and their complex rules and regulations compromise the performance and financial viability… Read More

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The California Apartment Association is preparing to fight what’s almost certain to be a major statewide, legislative push to broaden the reach of rent control. The rent control debate heads to the Capitol after a number of cities have considered either introducing or expanding the policy. In Sacramento, where the 2016 legislative session began this past Monday, tenant advocates have the Costa-Hawkins Act in their cross hairs. Under Costa-Hawkins, cities can’t impose rent control on housing built after 1995. The act also exempts single-family homes and condos, regardless of construction date. Without the protections of Costa-Hawkins, rent control would have… Read More

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San Francisco lawmakers have introduced a pair of bills that would hamper a property owner’s ability to quit the rental housing business. In the crosshairs of both pieces of legislation is the state’s Ellis Act. Senate Bill 1439 by Mark Leno would bar property owners from using the Ellis Act until they’ve owned a property for at least five consecutive years. Moreover, it would prohibit a property owner from using the act on more than one property. About 40 property owners, many chanting in Mandarin and some holding “Keep Ellis Unchanged”  signs, protested the legislation during a Leno press conference… Read More

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A bill signed by Gov. Brown this week gives survivors of human trafficking the right to terminate residential leases to protect themselves against their abusers. The law also strengthens existing protections for survivors of domestic violence who are forced to vacate a rental property for their personal safety. Authored by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, SB 612 allows a tenant to precipitate the move-out process by providing the landlord with a written report, prepared by a medical provider, declaring that abuse occurred. This increases protections for victims of crimes including domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, elder or dependent abuse, and… Read More

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A bill that would have unfairly penalized landlords who make honest mistakes regarding security deposits has died on the Senate floor, thanks largely to opposition from the California Apartment Association. Late Wednesday, Sen. Mark Leno’s SB 603 received 18 no votes, 13 yes votes and eight abstentions. Prior to the roll call, Sen. Roderick Wright, D. Los Angeles, spoke against the legislation, reflecting many of CAA’s reasons for opposition. Although the bill had undergone substantial amendments, SB 603 remained bad for the rental housing industry. The original, more problematic version would have required that landlords pay interest on security deposits,… Read More

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Sen. Mark Leno’s SB 603 would no longer require that landlords pay interest on security deposits, but his bill is still bad for the rental housing industry. The interest-on-security-deposits provision came out after CAA’s strong lobbying activities and nearly 800 CAA members wrote opposition letters to lawmakers. Remaining, however, are unfair penalty provisions for landlords who fail to return security deposits as required by law – no matter the rationale. Under SB 603, a small-claims court judge would have to award penalties against the owner if the tenant successfully demonstrates that all or a portion of the deposit should have… Read More

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The California Apartment Association is calling on its members to continue writing letters to  help defeat a bill that would require landlords to pay interest on security deposits. The legislation, SB 603 by Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, would also dramatically increase penalties when they fail to return the deposits as required by law. On Monday, May 13, Leno passed on his first opportunity to present SB 603 for a vote on the Senate floor. His next opportunity comes Thursday, May 16. The CAA letter-writing campaign to defeat the bill appears to be working. If you haven’t yet written a to… Read More

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