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Southern California landlords can soon receive increased rebates for installing high-efficiency toilets in qualifying apartments.
The boosted rebates are part of an 18-month pilot program from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The program, which begins Monday, March 18, aims to replace 10,000 toilets in older multifamily housing and significantly increase water conservation in the region’s disadvantaged communities.
The district’s rebate will grow from $40 to $250 for premium high-efficiency models. To qualify, the toilets (1.1 gallons per flush or less) must be installed in apartments built before 1994. Pre- and post-inspections required.
Metropolitan is also providing $1.5 million… Read More
Less than four months remain before a California plumbing code change bans water-wasting fixtures in older multifamily housing.
The code change comes from Senate Bill 407, a water-conservation law that’s been rolled out in phases since 2009. The phase taking effect on Jan. 1 applies to pre-1994 multifamily housing and commercial buildings.
Since the mid-1990s, California has required that all plumbing fixtures sold within the state meet water-conserving benchmarks. So if you’ve replaced your fixtures since that time, you are likely in compliance.
But if your apartment building was built before Jan. 1, 1994 — and you still have some… Read More
Tagged: ColumnsComplianceNews
By now, you’ve likely heard about the plumbing code change taking effect Jan. 1, 2019.
Basically, if your apartment building was built before 1993 — and some of the original toilets, showerheads and aerators are still in place — chances are good that your property will fall out of code compliance come New Year’s Day.
The code change taking effect comes from Senate Bill 407, a water-conservation measure that was passed in 2009. The bill’s water-efficiency mandates have rolled out slowly over the past decade, and the mandate for water-efficient plumbing fixtures in multifamily housing is the final piece to… Read More
Tagged: Compliance
A record number of Californians are getting earthquake insurance, and more and more cities throughout the state are passing laws to make buildings safer in a quake.
In 2016, the number of people signing up for an earthquake policy jumped more than seven-fold compared to previous years, the California Earthquake Authority just reported.
In 2016, housing policy emerged as a major focal point for the California Legislature.
For the rental housing industry, perhaps the most significant highlight was CAA’s successful sponsorship of four housing-production bills to ease California’s housing shortage.
When California fails to build enough housing, rent prices rise precipitously, leading to calls for onerous policies such as rent control.
Don’t call it a men’s room. Or a women’s room. The era of the “all gender” restroom begins this spring, at least for public, single-user facilities.
Beginning March 1, 2017, if you have a single-user bathroom facility in your leasing office or other public area, it must be identified with signage as an “all gender” facility. The signage must comply with Title 24 regulations. Moreover, the bathroom must be designated for use by no more than one occupant at a time or for family or assisted use.
Tagged: Legislation
Gov. Jerry Brown this week continued to sign legislation backed by the California Apartment Association, including bills on bedbugs, housing production and water submeters:
SB 7 (D-Wolk) – Water Meters and Submeters — will require that beginning Jan. 1, 2018, water submeters be installed in new apartment units. It specifically authorizes the imposition of an administrative fee by property owners or third-party billing companies when they read and bill tenants for their water use. It does not change or prohibit the use of ratio utility billing systems (RUBS).
AB 551 (D-Nazarian) – Bedbugs — will put in place disclosure requirements… Read More
Tagged: LegislationLegislative Summary
Gov. Jerry Brown this month will decide the fate of a bill governing the installation of water submeters in new apartment construction, including mechanisms to pass along associated costs to renters.
SB 7 by Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, would require the installation of submeters in multi-unit dwellings built after Jan. 1, 2018, and that residents receive accurate information about the volume and cost of their water use.
At the same time, the legislation, supported by the California Apartment Association, clarifies how multifamily property owners can charge tenants for water use, and it allows for late fees and eviction when tenants… Read More
Tagged: LegislationWater conservation
The California Legislature ended its two-year session having sent all four of CAA’s housing-supply bills to the governor’s desk, as well as a number of other positive proposals for the rental housing industry.
While increasing supply was a No. 1 housing issue in 2016, bills on issues such as water conservation, bedbugs and home-sharing platforms also advanced to the governor by the close of the session midnight Wednesday, Aug. 30.
Because the governor set housing production as one of his priorities this year, CAA’s housing-supply bills will likely elicit plenty of attention from him. Last month, Brown witnessed the collapse… Read More
For years, the California Apartment Association has pushed for a fair and cost-effective bill that governs water submeters in new apartment construction while allowing owners to pass along associated costs to tenants.
CAA is optimistic that, after more work, Senate Bill 7 may fulfill these goals, ultimately saving precious water in a state that continues to face challenges with lack of rainfall.
SB 7 by Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, includes provisions to clarify how multifamily property owners can charge tenants for water use, and it allows for late fees and eviction when tenants don’t pay their bills.
Submeters gauge water… Read More
Tagged: LegislationWater conservation