Network
Have the ability to reach owners and managers of rental property through RHN social and educational events. Also, learn from other Business Partners on how to improve and expand your business.
Listed on Resource Board
By becoming a RHN Business Partner, your company will automatically be listed in our Business Partner Resource Page which is categorized by specialty. The resource page offers landlords the opportunity to find a local vendor who has experience and focuses on serving the rental housing industry.
Legal Updates
By staying in tune with changes in laws that affect the rental housing industry, you will be able to tailor your company’s services to match the changing market and stay ahead of the competition.
Advertising Your Business
Take advantage of unique advertising opportunities available to connect your company to its target customer, the landlord. With many different kinds of advertising possibilities available, you can choose the best direction for your company to reach its goals.
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RHN-N-Site
2011 – 2012 Legislative Updates
STATE
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
SB 183 - Enacts the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010 (Act) requiring all existing dwellings intended for human occupancy that have a fossil fuel burning appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage to install a carbon monoxide (CO) device. Specifically, this bill:
Requires a CO device that has been approved by the State Fire Marshall (SFM) to be installed in any existing dwelling intended for human occupancy that has a fossil fuel burning heater or appliance, fireplace, or an attached garage within the earliest applicable timeframe as follows:
For all existing single-family dwelling units intended for human occupancy on or before July 1, 2011; and,
For all other dwellings intended for human occupancy on or before January 1, 2013.
No Smoking
SB 332 -This bill codifies the ability of a residential landlord to prohibit smoking on the property or in any building or portion of the building, including any dwelling unit. This bill requires every lease entered into on or after January 1, 2012 for residential real property where the landlord has prohibited smoking to include a provision specifying the areas where smoking is prohibited. For leases entered into prior to January 1, 2012, a prohibition against smoking on any portion of the property in which smoking was previously permitted shall constitute a change of terms of tenancy requiring adequate notice, as specified. This bill states that a landlord who exercises the above authority shall be subject to state and local notice requirements governing changes to the terms of rental agreements that are in existence at the time the policy is adopted.
Political Signs
SB 337 - This bill provides that a landlord shall not prohibit a tenant from posting or displaying political signs relating to any of the following:
An election or legislative vote, including an election of a candidate to public office.
The initiative, referendum, or recall process.
Issues that are before a public commission, public board, or elected local body for a vote.
This bill provides that political signs may be posted or displayed in the window or on the door of the premises leased by the tenant in a multifamily dwelling, or from the yard, window, door, balcony, or outside wall of the premises leased by a tenant of a single-family dwelling.
This bill provides that a landlord may prohibit a tenant from posting or displaying political signs in the following circumstances:
The political sign is more than six square feet in size.
The posting or displaying would violate a local, state, or federal law.
The posting or displaying would violate a lawful provision in a common interest development governing a document that satisfies the criteria of Civil Code Section 1353.6.
This bill provides that a tenant shall post and remove political signs in compliance with the time limits set by the ordinance for the jurisdiction where the premises are located. A tenant shall be solely responsible for any violation of a local ordinance. If no local ordinance exists or if the local ordinance does not include a time limit for posting and removing political signs on private property, the landlord may establish a reasonable time period for the posting and removal of political signs. A reasonable time period for this purpose shall begin at least 90 days prior to the date of the election or vote to which the sign relates and end at least 15 days following
the date of the election or vote.
This bill provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law, any changes in the terms of a tenancy that are made to implement the provisions of this section and are noticed pursuant to Section 827 shall not be deemed to cause a diminution in housing services, any may be enforced in accordance with Section 1161 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
It is the intent of the legislature that the enactment of this bill shall not affect in any way other forms of noncommercial expression by a tenant when that expression is not associated with political signs.
Small Claims Court
SB 221 - This bill increases the small claims court jurisdictional limit from $7,500 to $10,000 in an action brought by a natural person. Parties would still be limited to filing just two cases per year above $2,500.
Renters Right to Recycling
AB 818 - This bill:
Requires an owner of a MFD (Multi-Family Dwelling) to arrange for recycling services that are appropriate and available for the MFD. For the purposes of the bill an MFD is a residential building that consists of five or more living units.
States that an owner of an MFD is not required to arrange for recycling services if:
There is inadequate space for recycling containers, as certified by a solid waste enterprise that would otherwise serve the MFD. The certification is valid for no more than five years; and,
The cost of recycling services creates a financial hardship for the MFD owner. An
owner can claim a financial hardship if the recycling services result in a cost increase
of 30% or more over the cost of providing solid waste service alone. As part of the
claim, the owner must include the contact information of the solid waste enterprise that
provided the information on which the claim is made. The claim is valid for no more
than five years.
Domestic Violence
AB 588 - This bill amends an existing law so that a tenant who is a victim of domestic violence has more time to provide notice of intent to terminate a lease early. This bill provides that upon informing the landlord of intent to terminate a tenancy because he or she is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, the tenant must also provide the landlord with a substantiating court order or police report, as specified, that was issued or written within the last 180 days. (Existing law requires the order or report to have been issued or written within the last 60 days.)
FEDERAL
Tenant Screening Requirements
Applicants who are denied due to unacceptable credit must be notified in writing of their right to a free copy of their credit report. The notice of denial to rent must also include the applicant’s credit score, unless a score was not given with the report. This same rule applies to co-applicants and guarantors.
Filed under: Default
Business Partner Benefits
Network
Have the ability to reach owners and managers of rental property through RHN social and educational events. Also, learn from other Business Partners on how to improve and expand your business.
Listed on Resource Board
By becoming a RHN Business Partner, your company will automatically be listed in our Business Partner Resource Page which is categorized by specialty. The resource page offers landlords the opportunity to find a local vendor who has experience and focuses on serving the rental housing industry.
Legal Updates
By staying in tune with changes in laws that affect the rental housing industry, you will be able to tailor your company’s services to match the changing market and stay ahead of the competition.
Advertising Your Business
Take advantage of unique advertising opportunities available to connect your company to its target customer, the landlord. With many different kinds of advertising possibilities available, you can choose the best direction for your company to reach its goals.
Website advertising, newsletter email advertising, vendor of the month, member promotional coupons, educational sponsorships
Website advertising – Continuous advertising on RHN website will keep your name in front of owners and property managers searching for companies and professionals to service their rental properties.
Newsletter Advertising - Be a part of our once a month newsletters to rental owners and managers.
Vendor of the month - Listed on our website as vendor of the month with the ability to offer members coupons.
Educational Sponsorship - Sponsoring the classes and events.
Filed under: Default
About Us
Although created by Sandy Adams, RHN is administered by a team of experienced residential property management professionals, all sharing their individual skills and knowledge to establish an essential resource center. Our goal is to provide property owners and managers with the information and education necessary to guide them through their daily common and uncommon tasks.
Sandy Adams started her real estate career in 1978. For several years she represented companies in the sale of relocation and foreclosure properties. After obtaining her broker’s license in 1985, she started her own real estate business and began specializing in residential property management.
Sandy has served on numerous boards and committees for NARPM (National Association of Residential Property Managers) and CAA (California Apartment Association), as well as serving two full terms on the San Jose Advisory Commission on Rents. She has also taught several property management workshops for small investors and Realtors.
Mission Statement
RHN is committed to promoting high industry standards for our members through knowledgeable, fair and ethical practices and policies.
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