AB 1482 - landlord just spiked rent

[Karenjoy]

Jurisdiction

California

I live in an apartment complex and my neighbors and I were served a letter for rent raises. Our rent is going from 1500 to 2100 starting Dec 1 (60 day notice).

AB 1482 was just adopted and I was wondering if anyone knew if this was legal? I was reading the bill and I found that the rent is retroactive to March 2019. In other words I am pretty sure our landlord can only raise it by 10% max.

 

[Tax Counsel]

I live in an apartment complex and my neighbors and I were served a letter for rent raises. Our rent is going from 1500 to 2100 starting Dec 1 (60 day notice).

AB 1482 was just adopted and I was wondering if anyone knew if this was legal? I was reading the bill and I found that the rent is retroactive to March 2019. In other words I am pretty sure our landlord can only raise it by 10% max.

Well, yes and no. The bill says that the rent increase provision kicks in starting March 1, 2019, but also says that rent increases that occur after that which exceed the maximum allowed won't give the tenant any recourse for the rent overpayments that occur during 2019. The real effect then is that the rent cap starts on Jan 1 2020. For your landlord that means only one month at the higher rate, so it's stupid to propose a rent increase that goes above the cap for just the one month. This assumes your place is subject to the rent cap, there are some properties that are excluded. You can read the bill here: AB 1482

Your landlord may not know about the bill. Have you discussed it with the landlord or the property management company that runs the place?

 

[zddoodah]

Ah, it's so lovely to live in the People's Socialist Republic of California....

AB 1482 was just adopted

The bill in question has been approved by the California Senate and Assembly but has not yet been signed by our worthless excuse for a governor. If he does sign it, then, on January 1, 2020, it may reduce your rent to "the rent as of March 15, 2019, plus the maximum permissible increase under subdivision (a)" of section 1947.12 of the Civil Code.

 

[Tax Counsel]

Ah, it's so lovely to live in the People's Socialist Republic of California....

I've passed on several offers in California over the years because I didn't want to live in the tax heavy, very expensive, overly regulated, business unfriendly People's Republic of California.

 

[Michael Wechsler]

There is serious competition from New York City. We may be the king of rent control / rent stabilization / regulation.

 

[Tax Counsel]

There is serious competition from New York City. We may be the king of rent control / rent stabilization / regulation.

I think NYC may indeed claim the crown for the most restrictive rent control law in the country. That kind of rent control would probably not work in any other place in the country.

 

[army judge]

That kind of rent control would probably not work in any other place in the country.

The fact that such draconian measures are allowed, installed, and accepted anywhere in this country amazes me, even though other "gubmint" overreach and control is in play, too!

I am amazed, yet not surprised.