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California property owners would have to allow tenants to smoke marijuana in rental units under possible changes to fair housing laws.
They also would face unreasonable occupancy standards — ones similar to the Uniform Housing Code’s maximum occupancy. And any request for an assistive animal or companion animal would be presumed reasonable.
These are among several ideas being floated by the California Fair Housing Council and of great concern to the California Apartment Association.
The council has issued an initial working draft of its proposed regulations based on its interpretation of the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.
On Jan.… Read More
Tagged: Fair Housing
HIF is one of San Mateo County’s “Housing Heroes” after being nominated by the California Apartment Association.
San Mateo County recognized the Housing Industry Foundation on Oct. 22 during a ceremony at the Redwood Shores Library in Redwood City.
“Over the past three years, HIF, through its Emergency Housing Grant program, has served 1,437 families throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara counties who were homeless or
at risk of homelessness, totaling over one million dollars in grant funding,” says a nomination form submitted by CAA’s Tri-County Division.
HIF also contributed nearly $440,000 in housing-assistance funds and completed $355,000 in special… Read More
Tagged: News Tri-County
A bill signed by the governor this past week will undercut eviction-delay tactics by unscrupulous tenant attorneys who claim mold as a substandard housing condition.
On Friday, Oct. 9, Gov. Jerry Brown approved SB 655 by Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles.
What does this mean for the rental housing industry?
While the new law does add “visible mold” to the list of conditions that can make a property substandard or untenantable, SB 655 offers property owners a number of protections from bogus claims of mold contamination:
Visibility: The mold growth must be visible. No more air tests that tenants and… Read More
Tagged: LegislationMold
A bill that will undercut eviction-delay tactics used by tenant attorneys who claim mold as a substandard housing problem advanced Wednesday from the Assembly Floor.
SB 655 by Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, specifically provides that a property owner has no obligation to repair a mold problem unless the owner has been notified of the problem. It also makes clear that the owner can enter the unit to repair any identified mold issue.
While the bill provides that mold is a substandard housing condition, it will only rise to that level if a health officer or code enforcement officer has… Read More
Tagged: LegislationMold
The San Jose City Council this week delayed a decision on tightening its rent control policies, but the issue is coming back in just a few days.
The council decided to take up the stricter rent control proposal again Tuesday, June 23. See this San Jose Mercury News story for more details on the June 16 meeting.
Among the proposed changes:
Reducing the current 8 percent limit on rent increase
Eliminating the debt service pass through
Enacting a just cause eviction law
Mandating rental owners accept Section 8 vouchers
The City Council, which meets at San Jose City Hall, Council… Read More
Tagged: Rent Control Tri-County
Proposal needs clarity, consistency before adoption
A proposed ban on smoking in Santa Rosa apartment communities contains an unreasonably aggressive timeline and fails to offer landlords clear direction regarding their responsibilities.
The California Apartment Association is calling on the Santa Rosa City Council to revise the draft ordinance, which it will consider at its meeting next week.
CAA also is urging its members to write letters to council members, and if possible, attend the council meeting, which is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, at Santa Rosa City Hall, 100 Santa Rosa Ave.
Over the past several months, CAA… Read More
Question: How can we determine if the roaches in the apartment were the result of bad housekeeping? Is it our responsibility to get rid of the roaches?
Answer: Ask your pest control professional to give his or her opinion on how the roaches came into the apartment unit. The court will rely heavily on expert testimony in these cases. If you can prove the tenant was responsible for the infestation, they are responsible for the cost of removal.
Question: If our tenant sublets, and the sublessee defaults in the rent, do I give a notice to the tenant or the… Read More
Tagged: ColumnsComplianceLegal Q&A
With thousands of absentee ballots left to count, Tuesday’s election on privatizing household garbage collection in Fresno remains up for grabs.
Of votes tallied, 50.62 percent support Measure G, which would outsource residential garbage service to Mid Valley Disposal. No votes represent 49.74 percent of ballots counted. Only 262 votes separate the two.
The California Apartment Association supports Measure G, which would prop up the city’s general fund, preventing public safety layoffs.
Tuesday night, Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin expressed confidence — albeit cautious — that Measure G would pass.
“We’re feeling optimistic, but we still have a long night ahead… Read More
Tagged: Elections Greater Fresno
When landlords in Fresno County evict a tenant, they’ll now fill out paperwork intended to make the process safer.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday unveiled a revised “letter of instruction” for landlords to complete before authorities serve notices on tenants losing their homes.
Law enforcement officials discussed the form during an educational luncheon hosted by the California Apartment Association in Fresno and covered by CBS 47 TV.
“Not that we weren’t being as safe as we could before, but we saw where we could improve,” Deputy Doug Richardson told the station.
CAA tapped Fresno attorney Steve Hrdlicka to… Read More