You may think you know what counts as “rent,” but your city may define it differently.

In California, some local rent control ordinances include charges beyond base rent — such as parking fees, pet rent, or utility pass-throughs using Ratio Utility Billing Systems (RUBS). These charges may be subject to rent caps and increase restrictions, just like monthly rent.

It gets even more complicated. Even if your property qualifies for an exemption from the state’s Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482), failing to include the required exemption notice in your lease could leave you unprotected for some types of properties. And even though the pandemic officially ended years ago, a tenant’s COVID-19 hardship declaration can still prevent you from charging for services that were previously free.

To help landlords navigate this legal maze, the California Apartment Association has made its recent webinar — A Landlord’s Guide to California’s Rent Increase Laws — available on demand. The hour-long session, originally presented July 16, is led by Whitney Prout, CAA’s executive vice president of legal affairs, and Mallory Homewood, policy and compliance counsel for the association.

What the webinar covers

• The intersection of local rent control laws and statewide caps under AB 1482.
• How emergency declarations, including those outside your county, can limit rent increases under Penal Code Section 396.
• The rules and limitations for increasing rent for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher holders.
• Common pitfalls, like improper notices or incorrect CPI calculations, that can create liability.
• Tools to help you apply exemptions and calculate allowable rent increases.

Purchase on-demand access to help prevent costly mistakes when navigating California’s rent increase laws.

Meet the speakers

Access options

• On-demand access: $55 for CAA members / $95 for non-members
• Course length: 1 hour
• Continuing education: Qualifies for 1 unit of CCRM continuing education credit