Page 27 - AAGLA-MAR 2022

Multifamily News
Continued from page 24
Most cities are still trying to figure out their plans necessary to achieve the 75% diversion goal by 2025, including instructions for property owners and renters on how to comply with this new state mandate, and details regarding the certain, to be expected increased fees, which for an additional waste can and another trash pick-up will surely be in the range of double digits with estimates of 25% or more depending on type of property and penalties for non-compliance.
Appeals Court Upholds San Francisco Eviction Protections:
Eviction by Another Name
The California Court of Appeal upheld a San Francisco law that prohibits landlords from circumventing local eviction protection laws. The law prohibits landlords from using excessive rent increases to force tenants living at non-rent-controlled properties to vacate. According to San Francisco City Attorney, David Chiu, “When a tenant’s rent is doubled or tripled, that is just an eviction by another name. We cannot allow unscrupulous landlords to circumvent our local laws and unlawfully evict tenants. I am pleased the Court agreed and recognized the value of these common-sense regulations.”
Under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, the ability of cities to regulaterentincreasesoncertaintypesofhousingisrestricted. However,Costa-Hawkinsdoesnotimpactcities’abilitiestoenacteviction protections, and in 2019, San Francisco passed an ordinance prohibiting landlords from using rent increases to circumvent local laws and forcetenantstoleavetheirhousing. TheordinancewasupheldonappealinthematteroftheSanFranciscoApartmentAssociationv.City and County of San Francisco (California Court of Appeal First Appellate District, A161416).
Reminder to City of Los Angeles Rental Housing
Providers Regarding Emergency Rental Assistance
On August 25, 2021, the Los Angeles City Council approved major changes to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). These changes are meant to provide more rental assistance to Los Angeles City renters and landlords impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by transferring responsibility for the program to the State of California. Through this program, renter and owners may access the $5.2 billion in emergency rental relief funds the State has received from the Federal government, so that those who are eligible for rent relief have a better chance to receive it.
The following Los Angeles City renters and housing providers are eligible to apply to the State of California “Housing is Key” program for rental assistance and unpaid utilities:
• Applicantswithanapplicationstatus-“ReferredtoapplytoHousingIsKey.com.”
• Housing providers and renters that never submitted a 2021 City of Los Angeles COVID-19 Emergency Renters Assistance Program application.
• Housingprovidersandlandlordsthathavereceivedpayment,eitherdirectlytothelandlordortenantandrequireadditional financial assistance for months of rental assistance the City did not cover.
Culver City Rental Registration Fees Are Due by
March 31, 2022
Culver City rental property owners have until March 31, 2022, to register their rental units and pay the $167.00 per unit rental registration fees. The City has extended the deadline now for a seven-month extension period from the previously approved deadline. The City will waive the failure to register penalties so as long as the rental property owner registers his or her units and pays the rental unit registration fees by the March 31, 2022, deadline.
To register, re-register, and pay registration fees using the City’s Rental Unit Registration Portal, go to https://culvercity.hdlgov.com/home/index/landlordregistration.
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