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pair of bills that would greatly expand rent control in California will get
their first test in the state Legislature next week.
On Thursday, April 25, the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development will hold special hearings on AB 1482, which would apply rent control to every unit in California, and AB 36, which would weaken California’s Costa-Hawkins Act, allowing cities and counties to expand local rent control laws to single-family homes and newer construction.
Lawmakers on Thursday announced a package of rental housing legislation that would cap rent increases statewide and allow local governments to apply rent control to single-family homes and 10-year-old construction.
The housing package also will include a “just cause” for eviction measure, as well as a statewide rental registry, the legislators said during a press conference and through a news release.
Although lacking detail at present, AB 1482 by Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, will cap annual rent increases based on the rate of inflation plus a yet-to-be-determined figure, the press release says, and would not supersede existing local rent… Read More
The California Apartment Association has offered its support for a bill that would raise the state’s renter’s tax credit for the first time in decades.
“Housing costs are going through the roof in California, and families are struggling to pay the rent,” said state Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Contra Costa.
Glazer unveiled the bill Wednesday with two principal coauthors — Assemblywomen Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, and Sharon Quirk-Silva, D-Orange County, as well as 28 coauthors.
The legislation, SB 248, would increase California’s renter’s credit for the first time in 40 years and would represent significant help to single parents in particular.… Read More
Tagged: Taxes
During his inaugural state of the state address, Gov. Gavin Newsom this week called on lawmakers to craft legislation that stabilizes rental prices without ruining the businesses of small landlords.
“The pressures on vulnerable renters didn’t go away after the election,” Newsom said Tuesday. “We need new rules to stabilize neighborhoods and prevent evictions, without putting small landlords out of business. I want the best ideas from everyone in this chamber. Here is my promise to you, get me a good package on rent stability this year and I will sign it.”
Beyond sparing the businesses of small rental housing… Read More
Employing a new law supported by CAA, the Newsom Administration has sued a Southern California city for allegedly stifling the production of low-income housing.
On Jan. 25, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his approval of legal action against Huntington Beach, claiming that the city in Orange County has squelched the construction of affordable housing while also refusing to meet regional housing needs.
“The state doesn’t take this action lightly,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in this news release. “The huge housing costs and sky-high rents are eroding quality of life for families across this state. California’s housing crisis is an existential threat… Read More
California’s new governor is taking a multi-pronged approach to the state’s housing crisis that would remove barriers to construction, add financial incentives for cities and counties to build, and bring heftier penalties to those that don’t build their fair share.
In total, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget includes $7.7 billion across multiple departments and programs to address housing and homelessness issues across the state.
Tagged: Affordable housingLegislature
Talk about a newsy year for California’s rental housing industry.
2018 brought the rise and fall of Proposition 10, some sensible approaches to the state’s housing shortage, and another round of devastating wildfires accompanied by protections against rent gouging.
Although last year is history, 2018’s biggest stories will continue to unfold in the months to come. In the paragraphs below, we focus on half-a-dozen rental housing stories with statewide implications — and make a few predictions to boot.
Statewide rent control proposals defeated
Tagged: LegislationLegislative Summary
One bill proposes rent control, although details are lacking
The first set of bills have been introduced at the state Capitol, and as expected, there is no shortage of housing bills, including a proposal to “stabilize rents.”
Although the bills were unveiled this month, no action on the proposals will occur until 2019.
The California Apartment Association’s Legislative Committee will do a full review of the bills after the holidays. In the meantime, here is an overview:
Rent control
AB 36 by Assemblyman Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica, aims to enact legislation to stabilize rental prices. No details are yet included… Read More
Tagged: Legislative SummaryNews
As fires continue to rage in Northern and Southern California, protections against price gouging — including rent increases above 10 percent — have been extended to one year.
An executive order Wednesday by Gov. Jerry Brown keeps the price-gouging protections in place until Nov. 8, 2019.
The order names Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties, however, the protections may apply anywhere in California with a spike in consumer demand.
The protections, originally set to expire after 30 days, have been in effect since Acting Gov. Gavin Newsom last week declared states of emergency for the three counties.
Tagged: Wildfires Los Angeles
Voters on Tuesday rejected Proposition 5, a statewide ballot measure that would have allowed homeowners who are 55 or older or severely disabled to transfer tax assessments from a prior home to a new home.
With 95.7 percent of precincts reporting, 41.9 percent of the votes cast on Proposition 5 were to approve the measure, while 58.1 percent were cast to reject it.
Tagged: ElectionsProposition 13