#LANDLORD LIFE
ISSUE #1 | WINTER | $2.00
HOW DOES THE
NEW RENT CONTROL
LAWS AFFECT YOU?
A Brief Q&A
W
ith Assembly Bill 1482 being passed by the
California Legislature and signed into law by
Governor Newsom on October 8, 2019, a lot of
things are set to change for landlords. Many
property owners have questions about how
situations that they have handled easily in the past may now be an
entirely different story. Included below is a brief Q&A with some of the
most important answers to those questions.
Q: WHEN DID THE NEW LAW ACTUALLY GO INTO
EFFECT?
A: January 1, 2020.
Q: WHAT NEEDED TO BE PROVIDED TO TENANTS?
A: The new “Rent Cap and Just Cause Addendum” (Form RCJC) needed
to be provided by January 1, 2020.
Q: DOES IT MATTER IF THE TENANT IS MONTH TO
MONTH?
A: For month-to-month tenants, the addendum needed to be
incorporated into the rental agreement by a change in the terms of
tenancy using the “Notice of Change in Terms of Tenancy” form (CTT).
Q: WHAT IF THE TENANT IS ON A LEASE?
A: For these situations, the addendum will be provided as a stand-alone
notice.
Q: DOES ANYTHING NEED TO BE DONE FOR NEW OR
RENEWED TENANTS?
A: Yes. Any tenant that is signing a rental agreement, new lease, or a
renewal agreement after January 1, 2020, must receive a copy of the
addendum.
Q: WHEN DO RENT INCREASES BEGIN TO COUNT
TOWARD THE PERMISSIBLE MAXIMUM RATE?
A: The increases began to count toward the permissible maximum rate
from March 15, 2019, onward. Any landlord who increased rent after
that date but before January 1, 2020, cannot subsequently increase the
rent beyond the maximum rental rate for any 12-month period.
Q: IS THERE A RENT ROLL-BACK PROVISION?
A: Yes. Landlords who increased the rent on or after the March 15 date
but before January 1, 2020, beyond the maximum rental rate would
then be required to roll back that change in rent. The rent reduction was
effective on January 1, 2020.
Q: DOES THIS LAW HAVE A SUNSET DATE?
A: Yes. This law is going to sunset after a 10-year period (i.e., January
1, 2030).
Q: WILL THIS LAW HAVE ANY EFFECTS ON
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY?
A: No. The law as it currently stands covers only residential property.
For now, these questions cover some of the most common questions
landlords have. In our next issue we’ll discuss how to deal with rent
raises.