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| Council debates protections for tenants
by by Daniel DeBolt , Mountain View Voice
November 26th, 2009
Under a proposal for dealing with displaced low income tenants being considered by the Mountain View City Council, certain landlords would be required to help tenants relocate when a rental is demolished, redeveloped or converted to condos. |
| Housing crisis in U.S. getting worse
Trends and Predictions Blog
November 25th, 2009
After a six-city tour of the United States, Raquel Rolnik, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing reports that many tenants and homeowners in the United States are spending 80%, and upwards, of their income on housing. See the video from RT News. |
| The Donald Sterling Rule: All Bad Deeds Go Unpunished
by Jon Weinbach, Fanhouse
November 25th, 2009
Despite a long history of bad behavior including what the U.S. Department of Justice called "willful" mistreatment of African American and Latino tenants, the National Basketball Association has refused to discipline or comment on team owner Donald Sterling's misdeeds. |
| Monterey County: Feds let local branches use reserves
by JIM JOHNSON , The Herald
November 24th, 2009
Three months after the Monterey County Housing Authority decreased Section 8 rental assistance for thousands of local households, due to a lack of federal funding, local officials have been given the go-ahead to restore part of the cut. |
| Proposed Eviction Law to Curb Family Flight?
by Nancy López, Mission Local
November 23rd, 2009
As the exodus of families from San Francisco continues, policy makers are looking to eviction laws to keep families in the city and City Supervisor Eric Mar has proposed legislation to include them as a protected class under owner move-in evictions. |
| Major redevelopment project continues on San Bernardino's eastside
by Andrew Edwards, The Sun
November 22nd, 2009
A plan in San Bernadino for 100 apartment units to be rehabilitated for low-income tenants, and another 144 units to be torn down to make way for 40 to 55 homes and senior housing, moves ahead. The project has been a source of uncertainty for people who live in the area, since plans require them to find new homes. |
| Non-Smoking Apartments In Santa Monica?
by Bridget Kwok, Canyon News
November 21st, 2009
The Santa Monicans for Non-Smoking Renters Rights wants the city to expand non-smoking laws by creating non-smoking sections in multifamily residential buildings, including individual units. |
| Landlords pay $300,000 for evicting helper dog
by Bob Egelko, SFGate / San Francisco Chronicle
November 20th, 2009
The Department of Fair Employment and Housing announced that the Huntington Villas Apartments in Huntington Beach has agreed to pay a former tenant nearly $300,000 to settle her suit claiming she had been discriminated against because she is disabled and had an animal companion. |
| Group seeks apartment fixes
by Bill Silverfarb, The Daily Journal
November 18th, 2009
A neighborhood association has been pressing the management of a 697-unit apartment complex in San Mateo for nearly two years to increase security, address parking issues and clean up a garbage-filled creek. |
| Brown Only Democrat Left Standing … Really?
by Paul Hogarth, Beyond Chron
November 16th, 2009
Beyond Chron looks at the Democratic primary race for governor. According to Beyond Chron, the party's leading candidate has a poor record on tenant issues having opposed just cause eviction protections as Mayor of Oakland. |
 | CalPERS realty deals and image take a beating
by Dale Kasler, Sacramento Bee
November 16th, 2009
The Sacramento Bee covers the story of CalPERS' investments in predatory real estate schemes NYC and East Palo Alto. Included are remarks from tenants and advocates, including Tenants Together, explaining the devastating impact these investments have had on low and moderate income tenants. |
| Deed for lease
by Charles Bogue, Napa Valley Register
November 14th, 2009
Fannie Mae is offering leases to homeowners after they lose their homes to foreclosure. The lender it created the program to “eliminate some of the uncertainty of foreclosure, keep families and tenants in their homes during a transitional period and help stabilize neighborhoods and communities” |
| Pet proposal put on hold
by Katie Worth and Will Reisman , San Francisco Examiner
November 13th, 2009
After two hours of sometimes-heated discussion, the Commission for Animal Control and Welfare tabled a resolution Thursday that would have suggested The City prohibit housing discrimination against responsible pet owners. |
| “People Power” in San Francisco’s Mission District
by Randy Shaw, Beyond Chron
November 12th, 2009
The author discusse Mike Miller's new book on the history of Mission Community Organization and how San Francisco's Mission district has impacted city election in it's support for a series of tenant protection measures – from reducing annual rent hikes to expanding rent control in small buildings to strengthening code enforcement to boosting eviction protections. |
| Renters get shorted in real estate bust
by Alisa Roth, Marketplace (American Public Media)
November 12th, 2009
Before the financial crisis, real estate investors saw potential profits everywhere. Now their properties purchased in investments schemes known as predatory equity, aren't worth what they sold for, and it's turning into a problem for middle- and working-class renters. |
| Racist Landlords and the NBA
by Trina Chiasson, YouthNoise Play City
November 12th, 2009
Trina Chiasson of the nonprofit organization YouthNoise Play City post a piece in support of the "NBA: Show You Care" campaign and highlights the insidious problem of racial housing discrimination. |
| Apartment Evictions
by Carolyn Tyler, KGO-TV San Francisco
November 9th, 2009
San Francisco Supervisor, John Avalos, has proposed a modification to the city's rent control ordinance that will expand just cause eviction protections to all rental units in the city. |
| Stern's silence on Sterling says a lot
by Jemele Hill, ESPN
November 5th, 2009
Jemele Hill calls out NBA commissioner David Stern for not taking a strong stand against team owner Donald Sterling for the racially discriminatory practices he has shown as a landlord. Sterling was prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department for discriminating against prospective Hispanic and black tenants and just settled for more than 2.7 million dollars, the largest such settlement in history. |
| Tenant Troubles: Read Your Lease
by Dave Crow, SF Appeal
November 4th, 2009
This week, tenant attorney Dave Crow answers a question about landlords accepting checks from subletters and how that affects the lease agreement and he also answers a question about how one tenant on the lease moving out affects the lease agreement. |
| LA Clippers owner pays millions in discrimination suit
The Grio
November 3rd, 2009
Los Angeles Clippers owner and real estate mogul Donald Sterling has agreed to pay a record $2.725 million to settle allegations by the government that he refused to rent apartments to Hispanics, blacks and to families with children, the Justice Department announced. |
| Eviction Protections Rile Up Tenants and Landlords
by Nancy López, Mission Local
November 3rd, 2009
A reporter covers a San Francisco Land Use Committee meeting where tenants and advocates, including Tenants Together and several Tenants Together member organizations, spoke out on behalf of extending just cause eviction protections to tenants living in post rent-controlled units. |
| Building built in the '80s? Sorry, you're out.
by John Coté, SFGate
November 3rd, 2009
San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos is introducing a just cause eviction law that would extend protection to tenants in buildings built after 1979 who are currently not covered under the city's rent control ordinance. |
| New Eviction Restrictions?
by Nancy López, Mission Local
November 2nd, 2009
San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos will propose amending the city’s rent control ordinance “to protect tenants from arbitrary evictions without just cause” in apartments built after 1979. |
| Homelessness Prevention
Merced Sun-Star
November 2nd, 2009
The Merced Community Action Agency has released "Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program Funds." These funds may be able to help to help tenants pay rent for a limited period of time. |
| Rosemead council changes rules for mobile home parks
by Rebecca Kimitch, San Gabriel Valley Tribune
November 1st, 2009
Under an ordinance approved by the Rosemead city council, mobile home park owners could be required to pay the costs of relocating the mobile home to a comparable park. In addition, the owners could be required to pay the difference in rent for 12 months between the old park rent and the new home. |
| Real estate leader's name on bad-check warrant
by Andrew Ross, SFGate
October 29th, 2009
According to the Clark County, Nev., district attorney's office, there is a warrant out for Walter Lembi, managing director of the financially troubled Lembi Group, San Francisco's largest landlord. |
| 'Civil Gideon' Trumpets Legal Discord
by Tamara Audi, Wall Street Journal
October 27th, 2009
A new California law that gives poor residents the right to an attorney in civil matters such as child custody and foreclosure is being hailed as a model that could transform the nation's legal landscape. |
| Affordable Housing: Navigating Recent Legal Developments
by Matthew M. Gorman , PublicCEO.com
October 26th, 2009
The author says city managers should take note of several recently-decided court opinions which address issues of affordable housing and rent control including Palmer/Sixth Street Properties, LP v. City of Los Angeles and Guggenheim v. City of Goleta. |
| Carson approves subdivision of Colony Cove mobile home park
by Gene Maddaus, DailyBreeze.com
October 22nd, 2009
The city of Carson was expected this week to announce a settlement on a multimillion-dollar lawsuit over its failed efforts to protect low rents at mobile home parks. But with a legal deadline just days away, the city and park owner have been unable to reach a compromise. |
| Court Deals Blow to Owners of Huge Apartment Complex
by CHARLES V. BAGLI, New York Times
October 22nd, 2009
New York state's highest court dealt a financial blow on Thursday morning to the already beleaguered owners of the sprawling Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village complexes in Manhattan when it ruled that they improperly began charging market rents on thousands of apartments. CalPERS may lose $500 million they invested in the scheme.
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| Goleta rent control court decision to be appealed
by Robert Cuthbert, Examiner.com
October 21st, 2009
Attorneys for Golden State Manufactured-home Owners League (GSMOL), and the City of Goleta, are now preparing to appeal the September 28th Court of Appeals 9th Circuit’s “rent control” decision in favor of Goleta mobile home park owners. |
| A reprieve for renters
by Josh Wolf, Richmond Confidential
A new Richmond ordinance spells relief for renters whose landlords go into foreclosure. Under the new ordinance, tenants can only be evicted under 12 specific circumstances. Foreclosure alone is not one of those circumstances. |
| Moving Out Is Hard to Do
by Rosa Jurjevics, San Diego Reader
October 21st, 2009
Attorney Steven R. Kellman of of San Diego's Tenant Legal Center and Bernadette Probus of the Legal Aid Society of San Diego offer advice on security deposits and researching landlords before moving into a new place. |
| The Foreclosure Homeless Problem
by Daniel Indiviglio, The Atlantic
October 19th, 2009
In this blog post about a NY Times article on increased homelessness caused by the Foreclosure crisis, the author suggests legislative solutions to help renters in foreclosure situations. |
 | 3 Artists on the Economy
by Gilda Haas, Dr Pop
October 18th, 2009
Predatory Equity: The Survival Guide is a beautifully useful product of the Center for Urban Pedagogy in NY’s Making Policy Public project that links designers with advocates in order to produce and distribute an artful and useful poster resource that will help advance grassroots campaigns. |
| Tenant Troubles: Wet, Cold, And Moldy
by Dave Crow, SF Appeal
October 14th, 2009
Dave Crow, a San Francisco lawyer who specializes in tenants' issues now has an advice column for tenants. Here he answers a question about mold and habitability. |
| San Mateo construction firm sues Page Mill for alleged unpaid work
by Jessica Bernstein-Wax, MercuryNews.com
October 14th, 2009
A San Mateo construction firm has sued East Palo Alto's biggest landlord, alleging it wasn't paid for more than $50,000 in seismic work done at the rental properties. Meanwhile, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park Fire Protection District officials have become alarmed about renovations and construction work allegedly done at the properties without permits. |
| Big landlord’s lawsuits piling up
by John Upton, San Francisco Examiner
October 12th, 2009
One of San Francisco's largest landlords, CitiAparments, which is already facing a slew of lawsuits for allegedly withholding tenants’ deposits, is the subject of a new class-action lawsuit — this one related to labor laws. |
| No home to call their own
by Sandy Mazza, The Daily Breeze
October 12th, 2009
In compliance with the state's Regional Housing Needs Assessment, the city of Hawthorne spent $4 million to buy buildings and renovate them for creation of low-income rental housing. Many other smaller cities rarely create low-income units despite the State's demands. |
| Appeals court sides with tenants
by Ari B. Bloomekatz, Los Angeles Times
October 10th, 2009
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeal has ruled in favor of a group of tenants in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles who were entangled in a legal battle with their complex’s owner, who wanted to raise rents and issued eviction notices to the group. |
| Chino mobile home residents fight ownership conversion
by Neil Nisperos, Contra Costa Times
October 6th, 2009
Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara)addressed a group of Chino mobile home park residents about his bill AB 566 that would help mobile home park residents fight conversions. The bill has passed both houses of the legislature and awaits the Governor's signature. |
| Lincoln Place landlord settles with tenants
by Melody Hanatani, Santa Monica Daily Press
October 6th, 2009
A landlord-tenant battle came to a close recently when the owners and former residents of Lincoln Place in Venice reached a settlement that not only preserves a group of historic buildings from demolition but allows renters to return to their one-time home. |
| Where Americans Pay Most To Live
by Francesca Levy, Forbes.com
October 6th, 2009
More than half of the 20 most expensive cities for housing are in California, according to a report released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau. |
| US apartment vacancy rate hits 23-year high-report
by Ilaina Jonas, Reuters
October 6th, 2009
The U.S. apartment market in the third quarter turned in one of its weakest performances ever as the national vacancy rate hit a 23-year high. California, saw significant rent declines but they did not register effective rent declines of over 2 percent as they did in the second quarter. |
| Rental Units in Palo Alto Going Into Foreclosure
HomesForRentNet.com
October 5th, 2009
Investors like Page Mill Properties in East Palo Alto who have huge plans of rehabilitating buildings and then raising rents are surprised to discover that they cannot just raise their rents without running into fierce opposition from the community. |
| Housing Ethic, Or Lack Thereof
by Steve Martin, WeHoNews.com
October 1st, 2009
A West Hollywood attorney and former-city council member laments the impending demolition of a rent-controlled apartment building and what he considers to be West Hollywood's waning commitment to tenant rights and affordable housing. |
| How do you pay rent while in a coma?
by Ron Leshnower, Fair Housing Blog
September 30th, 2009
An attorney and blogger tells the story of a tenant in Palo Alto who paid rent late due to being in a coma and was evicted. Project Sentinel reached a settlement for the tenant including $32,000 cash and and an affordable apartment. |
| Affordable Housing Tenants Sue State
by Maria Dinzeo, Courthouse News Service
September 30th, 2009
According to a class action suit in Alameda County Court, the California Department of Transportation and City of Hayward refuse to help renters of affordable housing relocate from the "excess residential land" that CalTrans is selling off. The plans to sell the land will displace more than 400 renters according to the complaint. |
| County gets $1.6 million for low-income renters, others
by NATALIE HOFFMAN, Napa Valley Register
September 29th, 2009
About $1.6 million worth of help for the homeless is on its way to Napa County as part of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Napa County’s portion of the funds,is intended largely for low-income renters in danger of losing their homes because of job losses. |
| 9th Circuit Strikes Down Rent-Control Ordinance
by ANNIE YOUDERIAN , Court House News Service
September 29th, 2009
The 9th Circuit ruled in a 2-1 decision yesterday that the City of Goleta's mobile home rent-control ordinance in Goleta amounts to an unconstitutional taking of property. The Pasadena-based appellate panel ruled that the city should compensate the trailer for capping the amount of rent they could charge their tenants. |
| New law would limit housing demolitions
by John Upton, San Francisco Examiner
September 25th, 2009
After the San Francisco Planning Commission approved the demolition of three rent-controled apartments in 18 months, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi drafted legislation requiring all demolished, merged or converted homes to be replaced with similarly affordable housing units. |
| Grant will help Turlock renters
by Ken Carlson, Modesto Bee
September 24th, 2009
The state has awarded $1.5 million in federal recovery money to provide rental assistance for Turlock residents hit hard by the recession. The grant was awarded this week to the nonprofit Stanislaus Community Assistance Project, which worked with the city of Turlock and other groups to apply. |
| Ten years of Just Cause Oakland
by Puck Lo, Oakland North
September 23rd, 2009
Here's a report on Tenants Together member organization, Just Cause Oakland's 10th anniversary celebration and an overview of some on the work over the last 10 years. |
| 2008 Census data: Housing is getting even less affordable
by Stephanie Armour and Barbara Hansen, USA Today
September 22nd, 2009
Half of U.S. renters paid 30% or more of their before-tax income on housing costs, which is the limit the government sets for determining that housing is unaffordable, according to 2008 Census data. The number of renters increased nationally, while the number of homeowners declined.
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| The price is right
by Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union Tribune
September 20th, 2009
San Diego Housing Commission plans to borrow against its housing stock to produce 1,035 additional affordable units throughout the city. Once the $22.5 million project is completed next year, monthly rents will range from as low as $447 for a one-bedroom apartment to $594 to $1,159 for a three-bedroom unit. |
 | Renter claims rights are being violated
KERO 23 TV
September 18th, 2009
A southwest Bakersfield family renting a foreclosed home claims the new owner is unfairly trying to kick them out just four days after he bought the home. This news piece includes an interview with Gabe Treves of Tenants Together. |
| Lincoln Place Parties Sign Settlement Agreement
by Terence Lyons, Santa Monica Mirror
September 17th, 2009
A comprehensive settlement agreement has been signed by representatives of the parties to multiple lawsuits, potentially ending the 20-year Lincoln Place saga that has pitted tenants against a succession of owners of the 38-acre apartment complex in Venice.
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| Renters To Get Fee Over-Payments Back From Landlords
by WeHo News Staff, WEHONews.Com
September 17th, 2009
The City of West Hollywood filled a gap in its tenant protections when the council tweaked little noticed but potentially profoundly important fee overpayment law. By now allowing a hearing examiner to order a refund of excess, the City can ensure that owners are adhering to the limitations placed on rents and fees. |
| Monrovia complex tells disabled tenants to leave
by Corina Knoll, Los Angeles Times
September 17th, 2009
The LA Times covers the story of some 20 physically or developmentally disabled tenants of the Regency Court affordable rental complex in Monrovia who were notified last month that their leases were being terminated. Those being told to go fear loss of precious independence. |
| Predatory Equity
by David Jones President and CEO, Community Service Society of New York, Huffington Post
September 17th, 2009
David Jones, President and CEO of Community Service Society of New York, looks at a recent example of predatory equity in New York and how the massive fallout from this and similar schemes will be hurting tenants, taxpayers,and the general public for a long time to come. CalPERS was a major investor in this investment scheme. |
| Rent a big burden for half of Chicago renters
by FRANCINE KNOWLES, Chicago Sun Times
September 16th, 2009
A report on renting in Chicago reveals that half of Chicago's renters are paying more than a third of their income for housing. It also shows that the foreclosure crisis has altered the rental market by increasing demand from homeowners who have lost their homes to foreclosure and need to rent and decreasing supply as rental properties have been foreclosed upon. |
| Bill would give mobile home tenants more clout
by Kevin Clerici , Ventura County Star
September 14th, 2009
State Assemblyman Pedro Nava's bill, the Mobile Home Resident Protection Act of 2009, passed in the state legislature last week and awaits approval by the Governor. This article looks at the proposed law in the context of recent attempts by Ventura County mobile home park owners to convert their rental spaces to condominium ownership. |
| Eviction patrol heats up on U.S. foreclosures
by Lucy Nicholson and Mary Milliken, Reuters
September 11th, 2009
Orange County Sheriff Deputy Ramona Figueroa says that evictions are on the rise and she often serves eviction notices to people who have done nothing wrong -- who rent properties that have fallen into foreclosure, or are repossessed to recover unpaid debts. |
 | How We Survive: Renters, Rights, and Resistance
by Pauline Bartolone, Andrew Stelzer, & Tena Rubio, National Radio Project
September 9th, 2009
Tenants Together is featured in this National Radio Project program which looks at the impact of the "mortgage meltdown" on tenants and how communities are responding to help innocent tenants keep their homes. It includes interviews with callers to the Tenants Together foreclosure hotline and our director Dean Preston. |
| Tenants are moving up in a down market
by John Upton , The Examiner
September 9th, 2009
This Examiner article claims that some tenants in San Francisco are taking advantage of a collapse in the housing market by moving into better apartments at discounted rates, or by locking in attractive rents in older, rent-controlled properties. |
| Sheriff: Increase In Fraudulent Evictions
KERO 23 TV
September 8th, 2009
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office says it has noticed an increase in the number of fraudulent evictions in recent months. Generally this involves a landlord that does not wish to spend the money or time to follow the legal requirements of an eviction. |
| Businesses voice fear of increase in fees for new affordable housing
by Lori Weisberg and Helen Gao, San Diego Union-Tribune
September 3rd, 2009
Some San Diego businesses are trying to prevent an increase in fees levied on commercial development to subsidize new affordable housing. But affordable housing advocates point out that even in good economic times businesses and developers are loathe to increase fees for housing needed to serve their lower-income workers. |
| Craigslist Scam Targets Central Coast Renters
by Nicole Chavez, KCBA.com
August 31st, 2009
Central coast property managers claim that scam artists are reposting legimate ads for rental properties, only with different contact info and reduced prices, in an attempt to lure unwary renters to provide personal information and send them money. |
| Affordable homes or societal burdens?
by BROOKE EDWARDS, NATASHA LINDSTROM AND BEATRIZ VALENZUELA, Daily Press
August 30th, 2009
In this second part of a three-part series on affordable housing in Victor Valley, the authors cite data from the California Department of Housing and Community Development which shows no link between violent crime and high density or affordable housing. |
| Only one applicant for Rent Control Board
by Melody Hanatani, Santa Monica Daily Press
August 28th, 2009
Christopher Braun, who narrowly lost to landlord Robert Kronovet in the November 2008 election for the Santa Monica Rent Board, was the only person to submit an application by Wednesday evening's deadline to fill a vacancy left by former Chairman Joel Koury, who resigned last month. |
| Page Mill seeks to remove west side of East Palo Alto from city limits
by Jessica Bernstein-Wax, Palo Alto Daily News
August 27th, 2009
An attorney for a subsidiary of East Palo Alto's largest landlord, Page Mill Properties, filed documents asking the San Mateo Local Agency Formation Commission to remove areas west and south of Highway 101 from the city's "sphere of influence." If approved, the move could be a first step toward unincorporating that part of the city. |
| Eureka drops rental housing ordinance
by Donna Tam, The Times-Standard
August 27th, 2009
A Eureka task force, created to solve blight and crime in neighborhoods, announced that it would be dropping the draft ordinance meant to start a complaint-driven program for rental housing inspection and instead will amend the city business licensing program. |
 | Oakland apartments condemned, residents out
by John Coté, San Francisco Chronicle
August 26th, 2009
Almost 200 Oakland residents, including 74 children, were forced from their homes Tuesday after city officials condemned an uninhabitable apartment complex. The owner has filed for bankruptcy while the bank refuses to foreclose and take ownership. |
| Major setback for home advocates
by Dan Walters, Sacramento Bee
August 23rd, 2009
Columnist Dan Walters explains that if the recent appellate court decision stands in the Palmer/Sixth Street Properties v. City of Los Angeles case, it marks a major set back for low-income housing advocates. |
| Renting the California Dream
by Robert Cruickshank, Calitics
August 20th, 2009
In this blog post Robert Cruickshank says the single-minded emphasis on homeownership has badly distorted California's economy, land use, and politics. Bringing housing policy back into balance and providing policy support for rent can fix these distortions. |
| Broad Coalition Fights to Block CPUC Commissioner Chong
by Paul Hogarth, BeyondChron
August 19th, 2009
Low-income tenants are part of the coalition fighting to prevent the confirmation of CPUC Commissioner Rachelle Chong and to save the state mandated Universal Lifeline program, a basic phone service for low income Californians. |
| Total Recall
by Dorian Hargrove, San Diego Reader
August 19th, 2009
Oceanside citizens have successfully reached the ballot in an effort to recall a city councilmember who has sided with mobile park owners looking to abolish rent control. |
| The New American Dream: Renting
by Thomas Sugrue, Wall Street Journal
August 14th, 2009
Professor of history and sociology, Thomas Sugrue argues that it's time to accept that home ownership is not a realistic goal for many people and to curtail the enormous government programs fueling this ambition. |
| Apartment Rates Fall 6%
by Matthew Wrye, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
August 13th, 2009
The average cost of renting an apartment dropped almost 6 percent from second quarter 2008 to second quarter this year in San Bernardino County, according to data collected by RealFacts. |
| Saving homes with a 'right to rent'
by Dean Baker, Los Angeles Times
August 12th, 2009
In this OpEd piece, Dean Baker of the Center for Economic and Policy Research argues that giving homeowners the right to stay in their homes as renters after foreclosure would help stem problems related with the current foreclosure crisis. |
| Every Tenant Has One
by Dave Crow, Evict This
August 12th, 2009
Blogger and tenant attorney Dave Crow continues his discussion about implied warranty of habitability and what tenants can do to get landlords to make needed repairs. |
| Inclusionary Housing Takes a Hit
by Steve Martin, WeHoNews.com
August 6th, 2009
Former West Hollywood city council member, Steve Martin, comments on the recent affirmation by the Court of Appeals of the LA Superior Court's decision which ruled that the Costa Hawkins Act invalidated inclusionary housing requirements for new development. |
| Court Upholds City’s Tenant Protection Act
by Manny Fernandez, New York Times
August 5th, 2009
A justice in State Supreme Court has upheld the legality of New York City’s tenant anti-harassment law, which for the first time gave renters the right to sue their landlords in Housing Court for using threats or other disruptive tactics to try to force them out. |
| Mobile Homeless
by Kat Lynch, metrosantacruz.com
August 5th, 2009
Ronald Reed, the owner of a mobile home park in Capitola plans to close the park and displace its residents. He has retained a property rights attorney who has represented clients that have broken strict rent control agreements at other California mobile home parks. |
| A Deregulation That Could Reduce Foreclosures
by Mark A. Calabria, Cato @ Liberty
August 4th, 2009
Mark A. Calabria of the Libertarian think tank, the Cato Institute, argues that banks should be allowed to enter into long term leases with tenants to "reduce both the unnecessary eviction of renters and foreclosures on rental properties." |
| Preserving Affordable Rentals and Mobile Homes
by Deborah Brasket, Noozhawk.com
August 3rd, 2009
Deborah Brasket, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara County Action Network, argues that Santa Barbara County needs a rent control ordinance to regulate conversions of mobile-home parks to resident ownership. |
| Park Owner Seeks Condo Conversion
by Sue Pascoe, Palisadian-Post
July 30th, 2009
An owner of a mobile home park in Pacific Palisades wants to convert the park spaces from rental units to condominiums. A majority of the residents oppose conversion. |
| FBI issues alert, phony online rental ads
by Gailann Jarocki, Examiner.com
July 29th, 2009
The FBI has issued a consumer alert on rental homes listed on Craisglist at very low rates. Would-be renters in California and other states have been victims of this online rental scams. |
| Judge issues temporary restraining order against East Palo Alto
by Jessica Bernstein-Wax, Mercury News
July 29th, 2009
In an ongoing battle over rent control in East Palo Alto, Page Mill Properties has obtained a restraining order to prevent the City from discussing revisions to it's Rent Stabilization Ordinance. The Fair Rent Coalition vowed to file a judicial complaint against the judge who issued the order. |
| New Court Decision Jeopardizes Affordable Rental Housing
by Dean Preston of Tenants Together, BeyondChron
July 28th, 2009
Last week, a California Appellate court took a giant step toward eliminating affordable rental housing in communities across California. The Court ruled that a Los Angeles inclusionary housing law was preempted by the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. |
| Will your rental home be foreclosed?
by Peggy Gardiner, Modesto Bee
July 26th, 2009
While everyone is talking about the foreclosure crisis and how it affects homeowners, no one seems to be addressing the crisis facing renters. This piece recommends that prospective renters go to the county recorder's office to learn about the status of the mortgage.
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| Mobile Homes Could Lose Rent Control Protection
by Larry Gross, CityWatch
July 24th, 2009
Larry Gross of CES explains how tenants’ rights advocates were shocked when a bill that would cripple mobile-home rent control laws recently passed the Assembly due to support from a number of Los Angeles area progressive and liberal Democrats. |
| Agents speak out on tenant's plans
by Jessica Shillings, Daily Independent
July 23rd, 2009
On August 5, the Ridgcrest City Council will make its final decision on an eviction protection ordinance intended to protect tenants from displacement after foreclosure. Local realtors say the passage of this ordinance would discourage construction of new apartment complexes. |
 | VIDEO: Hidden Victims of the Foreclosure Crisis
by Christine Park, KFSN TV
July 22nd, 2009
Hundreds of Valley families are paying their rent on time, and still getting evicted. It's all due to a foreclosure crisis they say they did nothing to create. Tenants Together is featured in this news piece. From KFSN TV in Fresno.
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| Struggling Landlords Leaving Repairs Undone
by Manny Fernandez and Jennifer S. Lee, New York Times
July 14th, 2009
The New York Times looks at the problem of residential buildings bought at the peak of the housing boom. Many owners of these buildings are not making necessary and required repairs. |
| A Legal Victory for Tenants
by Emily Jane Goodman, Gotham Gazette
June 30th, 2009
A Housing Court judge in New York dismisses a landlord's petition finding that a tenant's home was her primary residence despite her not personally meeting the 180-day-in-the-apartment-annually test. |
| Homeless in Truckee
by Luke Beasley, Sierra Sun
June 10th, 2009
The Sierra Sun reports on a homeless Truckee resident who was evicted by her landlord after she complained of mold growth in the home. |
| Tenants in Turmoil
by Mike Coit, PressDemocrat
June 7th, 2009
The article from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports on two tenants dealing with a foreclosure situation. |
| Irvine Co. Offers Free Rent
to Grads
by Kristen Schott, OC Metro
May 28th, 2009
To entice recent university graduates to sign one-year leases, a southern California apartment leasing company is offering a free month of rent. |
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