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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 Howard Bloom, D-Santa Monica, aims to enact legislation to stabilize rental prices. No details are yet included in… Read More

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The city of Long Beach continues to tackle numerous housing policies with major implications for rental property owners. In the paragraphs below, we highlight issues that have prompted the involvement of the California Apartment Association and that will continue to unfold in 2019. To advocate for sound housing policy in the coming year, CAA will need abroad coalition of support. If you have an interest in Long Beach and would like to receive further updates on CAA efforts in the city, sign up here. Homeless Task Force On Tuesday, Dec. 11, the City Council received recommendations from Long Beach Mayor Robert… Read More

Tagged: Long BeachLos Angeles

In a victory for the California Apartment Association, the San Jose City Council on Tuesday rejected a proposal to expand the city’s “just cause” eviction policies to include duplexes. Another decision by the council, however, is cause for concern. The council Tuesday also directed staff to draft a “source of income discrimination” policy for rental payments. Such an ordinance could ultimately force landlords to consider renting to Section 8 voucher holders, a decision the association believes should be left to property owners.

Tagged: Tri-County

Question: I had a tenant move out several months ago. I returned $600 of his $1,000 deposit. He disputes all but $50 of the deductions and has threatened to sue me.  He also has not cashed the refund check.  How long does he have to sue me? Ted Kimball Kimball, Tirey & St. John LLP Answer: In California, the statute of limitations determines the time that you must bring suit to legally enforce a claim. For written agreements, it is four years from the time of the breach. For oral agreements, the statute of limitations is two years from the time of the… Read More

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In the wake of the wildfires that have ravaged both Northern and Southern California, the rental housing industry has stepped up in multiple ways to help fire victims recover. In the paragraphs below, we’ve assembled a list of resources currently available for fire victims, including displaced tenants seeking a place to live. We’ve also highlighted some of the ways the rental housing industry and industry partners have already helped in the recovery effort.  Rental housing providers Southern California Alliance Residential Co. is assisting those affected by the California wildfires by providing access to short-term leases and discounted furniture rental rates.… Read More

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After many years of service to the rental housing industry, Jane McGinnis announced her retirement from the California Apartment Association.  CAA will host a reception on December 13th. Jane is widely respected as a property management instructor and advisor. She served as the Director of Education of the Rental Housing Association of Sacramento Valley for over 15 years. Following the merger of RHA and CAA earlier this year, she continued to write and teach classroom courses. Over the years, Jane wrote dozens of property management courses, taught hundreds of classes, and trained thousands of rental owners, property managers, maintenance staff… Read More

Tagged: Sacramento Valley

Question: I would be interested in knowing what to do when a resident is demanding a repair be made inside of their apartment, but at the same time is demanding that none of the on-site maintenance staff complete the repair. Do we hire an outside vendor or must the resident allow the staff that is available to complete the repair? Answer: You should find out the reason the resident does not want on-site staff to do the repair.  You have the right to choose who should do the repairs for your apartment units.

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The Citrus Heights City Council has approved an ordinance establishing a new rental housing inspection program to preserve the aging supply of housing in the city and ensure that owners properly maintain their properties. The California Apartment Association successfully negotiated several changes to the initial proposal resulting in lower fees and the opportunity for self-certification. Citrus Heights has over 15,000 rental units, with 90 percent built prior to 1990. In a report to the council, city staff expressed concern that the rapid building of housing in the 1970s and 1980s resulted in a lack of quality control and the use… Read More

Tagged: Sacramento Valley

A recent report from Concord city staff lauds the city’s current rent-review and multifamily-inspection programs for helping renters stay in their homes and improving their living conditions. The staff report, presented to the City Council on Nov. 27, highlights the mediation program’s success rate. Since the inception of the rent-review program in June 2017, the city has received 25 cases, two of which are pending. Of the 23 closed mediation cases, 83 percent reached a positive resolution to the disputes, with tenants receiving a lower rent increase than originally offered, or with tenants staying in their residence. The city’s analysis… Read More

Tagged: Contra Costa

Gov. Jerry Brown has extended protections against price-gouging — including rent increases over 10 percent — for several counties devastated by wildfires that occurred between fall 2017 and this past summer. Brown’s order, issued on Nov. 28, keeps California’s anti-price gouging protections in effect through May 31, 2019, for Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Santa Barbara, Shasta, Siskiyou and Sonoma counties. The protections tied to these counties had been scheduled to expire Tuesday, Dec. 4. The order also names Ventura County, although this jurisdiction already was under extended price-gouging protections until November 2019 related to the Woolsey fire.

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