Legislative Update - March 16, 2023

Chula Vista Termination of Tenancy Forms Pending Publishing of City’s Administrative Regulations
SCRHA has prepared the Chula Vista-specific Termination of Tenancy forms. However, at the time of writing this, the City of Chula Vista had yet to publish the necessary Administrative Regulations for SCRHA to adequately advise members on how to comply with components of the new law specific to terminating tenancy, such as where to submit copies of the notices. SCRHA will notify members as soon as the regulations are posted, when the forms are available, and update the website with more information.

Storms Trigger 10% Rent Cap/Anti-Price Gouging Rules in Imperial County
Governor Newsom declared emergencies in over 40 counties as a result of recent storms. Rent increases in those counties will be limited to no more than 10% even for properties exempt from the state rent cap and at turnover. The emergency is set to end on April 11, 2023, but could be extended. Click here to see the full list of price gouging protections in place and to learn more about Penal Code 396.

Rental Housing Industry Faces Onslaught of Bad Bills
Since the beginning of the year, SCRHA has been advocating for and against numerous bills in Sacramento. The list of bills SCRHA is tracking has only grown since the bill introduction deadline and even after via the “gut and amend” process, the replacing of bill contents with unrelated subject to the original contents of the bill. Among the worst bills are several introduced by Senator Wahab (Fremont), including SB 466 which would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. She has also introduced SB 395 which would create a statewide eviction database and SB 460 which would prohibit or limit criminal background screening. SCRHA has defeated several attempts to regulate criminal background screening in previous legislative sessions. Also of great concern is SB 567 from Senator Durazo (Los Angeles). While currently a “spot bill,” she announced she intends to use the bill to change the statute for no-fault just termination, expand the population of protected tenants, and lower the annual rent cap.

Click here to read about some of the major threats to the rental housing industry that SCRHA and our statewide partner CalRHA are addressing.

ICYMI: San Diego ready to jump-start stalled efforts to preserve vulnerable lower-rent housing