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California lawmakers returned from their summer recess this week and are now in the home stretch of the 2017-2018 legislative session.
Before they adjourn Aug. 31, however, the California Apartment Association is urging them to approve a number of bills that would help alleviate the state’s ongoing housing shortage.
In the first half of 2018, California lawmakers considered a number of bills that were threatening to the rental housing industry, including proposals to repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, impose statewide “just cause” eviction policies, and mandate a training program for landlords.
At the same time, legislators considered positive legislation that would boost residential construction, leverage marijuana tax money to confront homelessness, and give renters a boost come tax time.In the paragraphs below, we’ll review some of the best and worst housing-related legislation of the year so far.
For the positive bills, we’ll summarize legislation supported by the California… Read More
A CAA-supported bill that would increase the state tax credit for renters has advanced to the state Assembly.
On May 30, SB 1182 by state Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, won approval on the Senate floor with 37 yes votes, zero no votes and two abstentions.
The bill would increase the renters’ tax credit incrementally over a five-year span.
“Under current law, homeowners in California receive state and federal tax benefits, as a result of owning their own home,” CAA says in a letter supporting the bill. “Renters, however, do not receive comparable tax benefits. It’s reasonable to provide renters, who… Read More
Tagged: LegislationTaxes
A newly introduced bill would waive environmental-review requirements for certain affordable housing projects in some of California’s poorest communities.
Under AB 3030 by Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, qualifying affordable housing projects in low-income “Opportunity Zones” would be allowed to proceed without review under the California Environmental Quality Act.
The Opportunity Zones are being created in low-income census tracks across the country as part of the federal tax law passed last year.
Tagged: Affordable housing
A bill co-sponsored by the California Apartment Association would create financial consequences for local governments that fail to allow their fair share of housing.
AB 1759 by Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, would withhold road maintenance funds from cities and counties until they meet their housing production goals as assigned by the state.
Along with CAA, the California Association of Realtors is co-sponsoring the legislation.
Tagged: Affordable housingLegislation
It’s no secret that the rental housing industry is wearing a veritable bull’s eye at the state Capitol.
Perhaps you’ve seen the recent news stories about efforts to repeal essential state protections under the Costa-Hawkins Act, the law that moderates the most harmful effects of rent control, or efforts to limit the ability of landlords to issue evictions.
Certainly, Sacramento stands as the highest-profile battleground for the rental housing industry, but it’s worth noting that the local landscape can be equally hostlile.
Tagged: News Long Beach
A California Senate bill that would require inspections for apartment balconies advanced from the Senate Judiciary Committee last week.
The committee approved SB 721 by Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, after the author agreed to incorporate all amendments requested by CAA. The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee, where the cost to the state will be considered.
Tagged: InspectionsNews
In the wake of the wine country wildfires, Sonoma County prosecutors have received more than 60 reports of rental price gouging, however, most of the allegations did not represent violations of law, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported.
The article also clarifies that the state’s price-gouging law does not apply to units just now entering the rental market.
“If you want to move out and rent your house for a year, you can set whatever price the current market will bear without penalty,” Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch told the Press Democrat.
Tagged: NewsWildfires 2017 Wildfires North Bay
Rent increases limited to 10 percent
Under an executive order by Gov. Jerry Brown, protections against price-gouging in the wake of the North Bay fires — including rent increases over 10 percent — will be in effect until at least April of next year.
The ban on price gouging, which originally had a 30-day time limit, is now in effect until April 18, 2018.
The state’s anti-price gouging law went into effect earlier this month after the president and governor issued a state of emergency in California.
Tagged: News 2017 Wildfires North Bay
In the wake of the North Bay wildfires, the president and governor have issued a state of emergency in California, triggering protections under the state’s anti-price-gouging law.
These protections prohibit raising the price of many consumer goods and services — including that of rental housing — by more than 10 percent after an emergency has been declared.
Protections under California’s anti-price-gouging law are not restricted to the city or county where the disaster occurred. The aim is to prevent price gouging anywhere in the state with an increased consumer demand resulting from the declared emergency. Disaster declarations by state or… Read More
Tagged: News 2017 Wildfires North Bay