The California Legislature has been busy and it continues to be more critical than ever to stay up with one of the most regulated industries in our country--Rental Housing. NPM would like to bring a few of the most prominent laws to our readers attention:
1) AB 1679 allows landlords to deposit (with the tenant's agreement, any remaining portion of a tenant's security deposit directly to a bank account designated by the tenant. The law also allows landlords to provide a copy of the itemized security deposit statement along with the supporting documents and receipts to an email account if provided and authorized by the tenant.
2) AB 2521 increases the value of abandoned property from $300 to $700 as it relates to the trigger to require a public sale before disposing of personal property. Once the statutory period has passed, if less than $700 the landlord may dispose of it in any manner or even retain for his/her own use. (Today, tenants have a 2 day grace period to retrieve the property without storage charges if teh property is stored on the premises).
3) SB 1229 now prohibits landlords who allow pets to then have a policy requiring the animals are declawed or devocalized as a condition of occupancy.
4) SB 1055 Rental payments were addressed by adding a law that prohibits a landlord from requiring tenants to exclusively use electronic funds transfer (EFT) or cash as the only options for payment for rent or security deposit. Other options for payments must be offered. NPM and many of our existing residents truly enjoy the convenience of electronic payments but there are still a minority of residents who do not have the ability and therefore need to be accommodated.
5) SB 1394 addressed Smoke Detectors by requiring that on or before January 1, 2016, an owner must ensure that smoke alarms are located in each residential rental bedroom. (Battery operated is OK)
6) SB 183 requires that all single family detached homes (owner or tenant occupied) must be equipped with an alarm on or before July 1, 2011. All other resiential units must be equipped with an alarm on or before January 1, 2013.
All of us should not only be aware of these laws, but also make sure it is incorporated into all of our lease materials going forward. Should you have any questions in this regard, please contact Neighborhood Property Management for further insight and implementation.
1) AB 1679 allows landlords to deposit (with the tenant's agreement, any remaining portion of a tenant's security deposit directly to a bank account designated by the tenant. The law also allows landlords to provide a copy of the itemized security deposit statement along with the supporting documents and receipts to an email account if provided and authorized by the tenant.
2) AB 2521 increases the value of abandoned property from $300 to $700 as it relates to the trigger to require a public sale before disposing of personal property. Once the statutory period has passed, if less than $700 the landlord may dispose of it in any manner or even retain for his/her own use. (Today, tenants have a 2 day grace period to retrieve the property without storage charges if teh property is stored on the premises).
3) SB 1229 now prohibits landlords who allow pets to then have a policy requiring the animals are declawed or devocalized as a condition of occupancy.
4) SB 1055 Rental payments were addressed by adding a law that prohibits a landlord from requiring tenants to exclusively use electronic funds transfer (EFT) or cash as the only options for payment for rent or security deposit. Other options for payments must be offered. NPM and many of our existing residents truly enjoy the convenience of electronic payments but there are still a minority of residents who do not have the ability and therefore need to be accommodated.
5) SB 1394 addressed Smoke Detectors by requiring that on or before January 1, 2016, an owner must ensure that smoke alarms are located in each residential rental bedroom. (Battery operated is OK)
6) SB 183 requires that all single family detached homes (owner or tenant occupied) must be equipped with an alarm on or before July 1, 2011. All other resiential units must be equipped with an alarm on or before January 1, 2013.
All of us should not only be aware of these laws, but also make sure it is incorporated into all of our lease materials going forward. Should you have any questions in this regard, please contact Neighborhood Property Management for further insight and implementation.
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