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The California Apartment Association has launched a website to educate the public about the Ellis Act, a law that allows landlords to exit the rental housing business. Passed in 1985, the Ellis Act says no local government can compel a landlord to keep offering his or her housing for rent. Without this legal protection, property owners could be forced to continue letting their properties, even if they’re losing money, or want to convert their rentals into housing for their own families. Some politicians and tenant advocacy groups are bent on repealing the Ellis Act, basing their arguments on inaccurate information.… Read More

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The California Apartment Association briefed the Moderate Democrats Caucus in the State Assembly this week about threats to the Ellis Act and the importance of preserving the state law. On Tuesday, about a dozen of the lawmakers heard from Tom Bannon, CAA’s chief executive officer, and Shant Apekian, vice president of public affairs. Passed by the State Legislature in 1985, California’s Ellis Act provides that no local government can require a rental property owner to continue to offer his or her housing for rent. Some San Francisco officials and tenant rights organizations want the Legislature to amend the Ellis act… Read More

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More than 140 rental housing professionals heard from Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey late last month during the California Apartment Association’s inaugural Professional Property Managers Forum. The event, formally known as Lunch Club, attracted representatives from more than 25 property owners and management companies, as well as industry partners. During his address, the mayor shared his vision for Riverside, centered on the theme “Together We’re Better.” Bailey also outlined the city’s accomplishments from the past year, such as the University of California, Riverside, becoming California’s first public medical school in four decades. Additionally, the mayor discussed economic development projects planned for… Read More

Tagged: Greater Inland EmpireOrange County

For most folks, if they hate their job, or it just doesn’t pay enough, they can always quit. But what if you’re a landlord? It’s not easy, and if San Francisco politicians and at least one tenant advocacy group have their way, landlords will face more hurdles and costs if they try. In their sights is the Ellis Act, which provides limitations on what a local government can require of property owners who wish to end their rental housing business. What you’re unlikely to hear in the media is that the Ellis Act and local ordinances like one in San… Read More

Tagged: Sacramento ValleySan Francisco Apartment Association

SILICON VALLEY — The California Apartment Association has earned public accolades for assisting fire victims in one Silicon Valley city and helping protect schoolchildren in another. After two fires in Redwood City, CAA’s Tri-County Division donated $4,000 to the Create A Smile Foundation, a nonprofit established by the Redwood City Firefighters Association. CAA’s contribution helped provide basic-need items and moving assistance to families affected by a pair of apartment blazes on Woodside Road. Mayor Jeffrey Gee called CAA Tri-County a “partner in our community” that plays a pivotal role, especially when disasters hit. “We need you as you need us,… Read More

Tagged: Tri-County

Question: I have returned the balance of the security deposit to a former tenant after deducting cleaning charges and insufficient check bank charges. The former tenant claims that I cannot legally deduct the bank charges from the security deposit because that deduction was not specifically stated in the lease. What are my rights? Answer: California law allows for the use of the security deposit to include other charges than just cleaning, damage and unpaid rent. There is no legal requirement that they must be specified in the rental agreement in order to be enforced by a court. Question: Our tenant… Read More

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A chapter of the California Apartment Association and two other groups have sued the city of San Francisco, claiming it passed legislation that violates building owners’ rights under the state’s Ellis Act. The legislation, approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and signed by Mayor Ed Lee, prohibits owners of multi-unit buildings from combining units in a building for 10 years following an Ellis Act eviction or for five years following an owner-move-in eviction. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, Jan. 28, says the state Ellis Act pre-empts the city legislation. The Ellis Act allows building owners to take a building… Read More

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In line with a request from CAA to the California Department of Industrial Relations, when minimum wage goes up, so will the lodging credit that a property owner may use to offset an employee’s minimum wage payment or as a credit against wages when the employee lives on site. For an employee required to live on a rental property, an employer can pay wages for the time worked and charge that employee up to two-thirds of the fair market value of the unit he or she lives in. Alternatively, the owner can use the rental unit value as a credit… Read More

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Question: My tenant has verbally notified me that he will be terminating the lease in two weeks and said to use the deposit for the two weeks rent. The contract is a month-to-month and requires 30 days notice. What can I do? Answer: You may consider giving the tenant a three-day notice to pay rent or quit for the rent owed, since a verbal notice has no legal effect. Question: I would be interested in knowing what to do when a resident is demanding a repair be made inside of their apartment, but at the same time is demanding that… Read More

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Question: Upon reading a “Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit,” I noted the statement, “…plus Owner/Agent may seek to recover an additional punitive award of $600.00 (six hundred dollars) in accordance with California law.” I would like to know the Civil Code Section allowing for this punitive damage. Answer: The code section is California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1174(b). The section allows for up to $600 if you can prove malice. Question: I had a tenant move out several months ago. I returned about $600 of his $1,000 deposit. He disputes all but $50 of the deductions and… Read More

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