News and Views
"Foreclosure crisis reaches boiling point in Miami's Liberty City"
"BARRE – City councilors had hoped to hear from tenants this week in their continuing effort to update local ordinances on rental properties in the city, But instead, with one exception, they heard from their advocates."
"DAYTONA BEACH -- Dozens of pieces of furniture, mattresses, lamps and other assorted household items were scattered across Magnolia Avenue late Friday afternoon after several renters were kicked out of two houses lost to foreclosures."
"Montgomery County officials are resisting extensive changes to housing policies -- primarily rent control -- presented in a report Tuesday that outlines ways to keep renters from being priced out of the wealthy suburb."
"WHITE PLAINS - Tenants in regulated apartments in Westchester will see no rent increases for both one- and two-year leases in the coming year under a decision tonight by the Westchester Rent Guidelines Board."
"A group of renters and community activists have established a Montgomery County Renters Alliance, saying it will be the first countywide organization to advocate for renters’ rights."
"A bill passed by both houses of the State Legislature on Thursday would require New York City landlords to tell prospective tenants about a building’s recent bedbug history."
"As the financial services industry awaits final language in the federal reform bill, housing advocates are wondering if tenant protections will be extended by the legislation. The Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009, mandates that renters be given 90 days notice before they must leave a property, and in many cases, provides that they may remain for the entire term of the lease."
"As the financial services industry awaits final language in the federal reform bill, housing advocates are wondering if tenant protections will be extended by the legislation. The Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009, mandates that renters be given 90 days notice before they must leave a property, and in many cases, provides that they may remain for the entire term of the lease."
"A new law offers a stark choice for South Florida condo renters living in units owned by people who are behind on their maintenance fees: Fork over the rent money to the association, or face eviction."
Voice of San Diego writes about the rights of tenants in foreclosure, citing a Q&A with Tenants Together Program Coordinator, Gabe Treves.
The City of Paris cracks down on illegal short-term rentals in an attempt to ensure that housing in Paris is made available for the city's tenants.
Tenant activists in NYC have been advocating for the passage of stronger rent laws since the Democrats regained control of the state senate in the November 2008 election. None of the bills have been passed. With the legislative session coming to a close and an election coming up in November, tenants have grown impatient. Thirteen activists were arrested Monday on charges of civil disobedience.
"Fueled by persistently high unemployment rates, completed foreclosures surged 56.7 percent over the first half of the year, placing foreclosures on pace to surpass their recent high in 2008, according to figures released Tuesday morning."
Approximately 30,000 tenants gathered in East Point, a suburb just outside of Atlanta, to stand in line for a Section 8 housing application. There are 455 newly available Section 8 vouchers, which renters can use anywhere in the country.
With the decision, the city can now form its rent stabilization board.
A medical marijuana grower finds that some landlords don't want even legal pot in the building.
The number of rent controlled apartments in New York City has declined from 155,361 in 1987 to less than 40,000 today. Many of these units are owned by landlords who seemingly neglect the apartments and their elderly tenants who have lived there since WWII.
The New York Observer responds to a New York Post article on elderly tenants in rent-controlled units.