The California Apartment Association (CAA) strongly believes that education is at the heart of its mission as a trade association. Education helps individual members to better manage their properties and to increase the return on their investments. In addition, education of the industry as a whole leads to less regulation and intrusion by government agencies that establish stringent laws designed to regulate uneducated and unethical property owners and managers, but that apply to all.

In addition to comprehensive property management training, the property management series instills best practices to run top-notch rental communities and teaches compliance with California’s unique laws and regulations.

If you own or manage rental housing in California, you know it’s complicated. Get help managing your investment by enrolling yourself or your employees in the property management series.

The Property Management Series is necessary to complete the California Certified Residential Manager (CCRM) exam, and then receive your California Certified Residential Manager (CCRM) certificate. The series provides comprehensive training specific to the laws and regulations of California. When you complete the CCRM professional certification program, you will have the skills necessary to efficiently and effectively manage rental property and be an asset to any employer.

Preparing to Rent: Introduction to Ethical Property Management, Preparing the Property and Developing Key Policies and Procedures

Your rental property must be prepared for leasing before the first applicant arrives. Learn how to get your property ready and set competitive rents. Also, learn how ethical property management keeps you out of trouble, fosters good relations with residents and business partners and gives you the peace of mind that comes with doing things right.  Learn how to establish screening criteria and rental policies and procedures that comply with fair housing and landlord/tenant laws.  This class also provides an overview of the types of policies a property must develop to address AB 1482’s rent caps and just cause provisions.

Renting the Property: Marketing-to-Move-In, Leasing Skills, and Security Deposits

The class starts with an overview of how to market your unit, maintain your online reputation and write advertisements that comply with fair housing laws.  You’ll learn leasing procedures and closing techniques, how to use applications and screen residents including reading credit reports, dealing with applicants without a social security number, and obtaining prior landlord and employer references.  This class then walks you through the process of accepting, denying or conditionally accepting an application, including specific requirements for users of consumer reports. Finally, we cover security deposits and fair housing issues that can arise in the leasing process.

Beginning and Maintaining the Tenancy: Rental Agreements, Moving In, Changing Terms, Raising Rent, and Entering the Unit

Make sure you are ready for move-in day.  This class will cover the essential components of a rental agreement and how to do the move-inspection.  Then you’ll learn about collecting rent, how to deal with resident issues that arise during the tenancy, how to change the terms of rental agreement, how to raise rent and comply with AB 1482’s rent caps, and how to comply with state law’s limitations on entering the rental unit.

Renewal of Tenancy and End of the Tenancy: Termination of the tenancy, Three-Day Notices, Abandonment, Disposition of Security Deposit, and the Eviction Process

This class will guide you through lease termination and renewal options, including the significant limitations imposed by AB 1482.  Dealing with resident misconduct and non-payment of rent, and new rules for using three-day notices will be covered. Unusual circumstances related to termination will also be addressed : abandonment, death, military deployments and change of duty station, etc.  Finally, this class will cover the security deposit disposition law and provide an overview of the unlawful detainer process.

Maintenance Management: Maintaining a Property

Without proper upkeep, a rental unit loses its luster, and before long, its ability to attract and retain residents. It makes more sense to keep your properties shipshape. Brush up on best practices with the California Apartment Association’s class “Maintenance Management: Maintaining a Property.”

Liability and Risk Management: Protecting the Investment

For better or worse, California has a litigious business environment – and the rental housing industry is no exception. If you don’t play by the rules, you’ll eventually end up in court. Ignorance of the law isn’t a defense.  Luckily, those in the rental housing business have the California Apartment Association’s help in becoming versed in the law. With this course, learn to protect your investment in property, and count yourself among the savvy when it comes to liability and risk management.

Budget Development and Implementation

Ever scratch your head and wonder: Where’d the money go? Without a budget, it’s bound to happen. To succeed in the rental housing business, you can’t be foggy with the numbers. This course teaches the benefits of a budget, how to develop one and the resources you’ll need. Familiarize yourself with various types of budgets, the differences between operating and capital expenses, and the software and templates to help you succeed.

Fair Housing: It’s the Law

With discrimination complaints, undercover investigations and penalties on the rise, it is imperative to abide by federal, state and local laws regarding Fair Housing. With this course, Fair Housing: It’s the Law, you’ll receive the knowledge you need to follow the rules.

Professional Skills for Supervisors

When a star employee gets promoted to a supervisory position, it’s exhilarating – but it can be intimidating, too. The newly minted supervisor has a great career opportunity, but without the right people skills and organizational know-how, she and her direct reports can fall short. Professional Skills for Supervisors helps head off this scenario.

Current CCRM Certified Individuals

CCRM Certification Requirements:

  • Complete all nine required courses within 1 year (12 months) of the date of the first course attended.
  • Successfully pass the CCRM exam with a score of (75% or better In-Class, 80% or better On-Demand)  (within 1 year of the date of the first course attended).
  • Have minimum one year of property management OR industry related experience.
  • Submit a fully completed CCRM Certification Application & pay the $75 application fee, online at CCRM Certification Application.
  • Sign and adhere to the CAA CCRM Code of Ethics.
  • Students interested in obtaining the CCRM professional certification have two years from the date of the first course to fulfill the necessary requirements.

CCRM Re-Certification Requirements:

  • Twelve hours/units CAA Network Continuing Education Credit (CEC); a minimum of two hours must be in Fair Housing.
  • CCRM Recertification Application must be completed prior to the expiration date, which is 2 years from the certification date and is noted on the bottom left on the certificate.
  • Submit a fully completed CCRM Recertification Application (CCRM Recertification Application), & pay the $75 application fee.
  • Provide verification that the required number of CECs were completed prior to the certificate expiration date.
  • Over 3 months expired; the student must take the full CCRM series.