EAST BAY RENTAL HOUSING ASSOCIATION | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | $9.95 Housing rental property owners GIVING BACK WHY DID THE eviction moratorium STAY IN PLACE? SERVING ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES Revolutionizing ADUs
For questions, please contact the City's Housing Division by email at housing@fremont.gov or call 510 494 4500. YOU'RE INVITED! Housing Informational Webinar for Fremont Landlords & Property Managers THURSDAY, SEPT. 22, 2022 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Attend this webinar for the latest housing news for Fremont: Code Enforcement Eviction Moratorium Fair Housing Law Landlord & Tenant Rights & Responsibilities Rent Review Program Resources for Tenants R E G I S T E R O N L I N E !
2 SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 28 CREATING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY FOR REMOTE WORKERS Remote work is commonplace and renters look for ideal locations 32 WHEN PROPERTY OWNERS GIVE BACK Building strong relationships with renters retains their loyalty Features STOCK/ADOBEMUDD.GARY:COVERLEFT:DIMABERLIN Contents
FACILITIES AND EVENT SCHEDULING Shani Brown shani@ebrha.com | 510.893.9873 ext. 406 BILLING AND ACCOUNTING Chris Welton accounting@ebrha.com | 510.893.9873 ext. 405
Rowland FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Luke Blacklidge TREASURER Chris Moore SECRETARY Brent Kernan EBRHA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Wayne C. Rowland, Luke Blacklidge, Maya Clark, Chris Cohn, Lazandra Dial, Brent Kernan, Carmen Madden, Chris Moore, Courtney Morse, Fred Morse, Joshua Polston, Jack Schwartz, Aaron Young PUBLISHED BY East Bay Rental Housing Association PUBLISHER Derek Barnes EDITOR Michelle Gamble ART DIRECTOR Bree Montanarello STAY CONNECTED WITH EBRHA Call: 510.893.9873 Membership Questions: membership@ebrha.com Visit: ebrha.com Share Your Feedback: editor@ebrha.com Advertise: sales@ebrha.com Read: issuu.com/rentalhousing Learn: ebrha.com/faq Ask: ebrha.com/submit-your-questions Participate: web.ebrha.com/events GET SOCIAL facebook.com/EastBayRentalHousingAssociation@ebrha_rentrospect@EastBayRHA
Rental Housing (ISSN 1930-2002-Periodicals Postage Paid at Oakland, California.
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to RENTAL HOUSING, 3664 Grand Ave., Suite B, Oakland, CA 94610
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EAST RENTALBAYHOUSING ASSOCIATION Volume XXVIIII Number 22 | Sept/Oct 2022 EBRHA OFFICE 3664 Grand Ave., Suite B, Oakland, CA 94610 TEL 510.893.9873 | FAX 510.893.2906 ebrha.com
SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM
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Rental Housing is not responsible for the return or loss of submissions or artwork. The magazine does not consider unsolicited articles. The opinions expressed in any signed article in Rental Housing are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of EBRHA or Rental Housing. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If legal service or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent person should be sought. Acceptance of an advertisement by this magazine does not necessarily constitute any endorsement or recommendation by EBRHA, express or implied, of the advertiser or any goods or services offered. Published bimonthly, Rental Housing is distributed to the entire mem bership of EBRHA. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced without permission. Publisher disclaims any liability for published articles. Printed by Bay Central Printing Company. ©2022 by EBRHA. All rights reserved.
Rental Housing is published bimonthly for $9.95 per issue by the East Bay Rental Housing Association (EBRHA), 3664 Grand Ave., Suite B, Oakland, CA 94610.
4 SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM Contents SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Departments 6 WELCOME Letter from the CEO, Derek Barnes 7 OUT & ABOUT Featuring the EBRHA Next Conference 8 LEGISLATION EBRHA supported programs and updates 10 CALENDAR EBRHA events and other happenings 12 SPOTLIGHT Lee Thomas, Mayoral Candidate 14 INFORM "Good Policies" for Property Insurance 16 EDUCATE ADUs revolutionize housing in California 20 CONNECT Hiring property managers with heart 21 TRADE EXPO EBRHA Trade Expo 2022 24 ADVOCATE The Eviction Moratorium isn't lifted –taking Alameda Board of Supervisors to task 26 INSPIRE Using Feng Shui to attract high-quality renters 36 TAX TALK Tips for Tax Preparation for the 4th quarter 38 SUPPLIER DIRECTORY 42 LAST LOOK 10 things property owners can’t do 43 AD INDEX STOCKPISTROV/ADOBEDMITRY
Pleasant Hill Community Center October 11th 10am-3:30pm Annual Trade Expo 320 Civic Center Dr. Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 2 0 2 2 Resgister Now SCAN QR CODE (OR) VISIT WWW.EBRHA.COM 15th Annual EBRHA 360 Trade Expo EBRHA 360 promises an immersive experience that empowers housing providers with the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to stay on top of a constantly evolving rental property landscape. Light breakfast & Lunch Legislative Panel Live Roundtable with Wayne Rowland
Our hearts our still heavy as we mourn the recent loss of Georgia Richardson, EBRHA’s Community Liaison and Carlon Tanner, former EBRHA Board Member. We dedi cate this issue to you and to all those who fight every day to advance our shared humanity as a community – especially those who provided homes for so many people during these challenging two years despite many obstacles and unresolved problems.
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Normally,ourfallmagazineissuefocusesonourcommunityinwaysthatshowcaseexamplesoftheleadershipandphilanthropicworkthathappensaroundtheEastBay.We’llturnalittleinwardthiseditiontofocusontheserviceandsupportrentalpropertyownersprovideinthe
There are people in our orbit, known and not so known, who give back tirelessly and pull out the best in us. They are the epitome of the inspirational leader. Sometimes their light and energy are only with us a short time in this world, but their gifts are eternal and can have profound impact.
To solve today’s housing problems, we must think differ ently and be in action in new ways. In Dr. Jenny Schuetz’s recent book Fixer-Upper: How to Repair America’s Broken Housing Systems, she challenges the prevailing rational and outdated paradigms that have contributed to our current housing crisis. It is a catastrophe installed by incompetent or uninformed leadership, bad policy development, defi cient inventory and production, and stagnant wage growth. She suggests ways to mitigate the crisis like providing more options and permanent subsidies for renters. Qualifying households through some form of needs assessment or testing is also critical, especially when it comes to providing subsidies and even occupying rent-controlled units.
Derek Barnes
LETTER FROM
Dr. Schuetz seems to understand that if rental property owners cannot charge monthly rents that cover their oper ating costs, then they close down, either selling the prop erty or letting units sit vacant. Many of us are living this experience or witnessing this every day and are shocked that our policymakers don’t understand these business fundamentals. She also asserts that we must convince legislators that rent control is a failed 1970’s idea that has morphed into radical-leaning parables that do nothing to address the core issues driving the crisis. These diver sions have become part of a progressive manifesto that is paradoxically anti-housing because it ultimately hurts the market, production and renters in the long run. We close out an extremely tough summer with an end to California’s statewide eviction moratorium, Alameda County and Oakland’s continued local health emergency ordinance that bans evictions, decreases in the allowable rent caps in several East Bay cities (Antioch, Oakland and Richmond), the formation of rent registries, and key measures on the November ballot like the recent Just Cause Ordinance modification (Measure V). There are also pending state legislation that threatens our property rights and businesses. A positive ruling by the Supreme Court regarding our longstanding garbage lawsuit in Oakland is a reminder of what is possible when we are committed to standing together and providing the needed resources. We must expose the problems within our body of government that is supposed to work to improve democracy and public service for everyone – not divide us. This is the time for all EBRHA members and our pro-housing partners to stand up and win against all forms of anti-housing policy and their supporters. With the re cent elections ahead of us, there is no better time to send a strong message as housing providers.
Welcome A EBRHA CEO DEREK BARNES
communities we serve. I hear so many stories from EBRHA members who consistently go above and beyond to create homes and good renter experiences – even when the deck is stacked against owners.
SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM 7 Out & About EBRHA NEXT 2022: INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE Volunteer Betty Yu checking in guests for EBRHA Next. EBRHA Next Conference at the Pleasant Hill Community Center on May 31st, 2022. A delicious breakfast and lunch were served at the event. EBRHA Board of Director Presi dent, Wayne Rowland NAA Director of Product and EBRHA Next guest speaker, Amy Loyd Bay Area Bin Support was a sponsor had a booth at the EBRHA Next EBRHAevent.staff member, Shaunte Sharkey EBRHA CEO, Derek Barnes Intellerent V.P. of Operations and EBRHA Next guest speaker, Cassandra Jochim
BILLS NOT PASSED EBRHA successfully opposed bills that, in the end, died! Both bills would have adversely affected your decisions and ability to rent!
SB 847 creates a program for housing providers as part of “COVID-19 Rent Relief: Grant Program” who received a negative decision or no response within 20 days for “Tier 1” appli cants. EBRHA and CalRHA affiliates support this bill. SB 847 would until January 1, 2025 create a grant program under the administration of the department and would require the department to, among other things, award a program grant, as defined, to a qualified applicant who submits a complete application, as defined, on a firstcome, first-served basis. However, the bill would require the department to provide grants to all Tier 1 applicants, as defined, before processing the applications of other applicants, as specified.Thebill would define “qualified applicant” to mean a property owner who has applied for rental assistance funds pursuant to the State Rental As sistance Program and satisfies certain criteria, including that the property owner has received a negative final de cision, as specified. The bill would also establish a fund, the moneys in which would be available upon appropriation by the Legislature for the purposes of awarding program grants to qualified applicants.
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Legislation
LEGISLATIVE
• First, AB 2383 (Jones-Sawyer) would have created a burdensome and unreasonable multiple-step rental application process with an emphasis on protecting crimi nals. By creating a new “protected class” of individuals under our state discrimination laws, property owners would become vicariously liable for injuries caused by a known convicted criminal, thus not a single multi-family property owner would have been able to meet the standards of the legislation without being exposed to litigation. It also would have required laypersons without expert training to opine whether a convicted criminal is no longer a danger to other renters.
EBRHA SUPPORTS
REVIEW
• Second, SB 1026 (Wieckows ki) would have created a “right” for prospective renters to obtain disclosures relating to rental unit energy efficiency from the owner/ agent relating to energy usage by any previous renter prior to signing an application to rent or occupying the unit. We would have been at the mercy of utility companies creating new departments that would have ultimately been required to respond to our requests for information about the specifics of utility usage. No one knew how we would comply with the terms of the bill, and at the same time, protect the private infor mation about the previous renter.
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EBRHA Town Hall Series: SWEDEPT21Every Wednesday from 5:30 - 7 pm September 7th - 28th Moderated by Jack Schwartz Oakland Mayoral Candidates Ignacio De La Fuente Treva Reid Loren Taylor Sheng ThaoSSSWEDEPT14WEDEPT7WEDEPT28This virtual Zoom Town Hall Series will feature a different candidate each week. We’ll stimulate an intimate conversation to discuss each candidate’s vision for the city, priorities as mayor, ideas for improving our housing crisis, and ways they will assist rental housing providers and small businesses. A Q&A session will follow the moderated discussion. Attendees may also submit their questions in advance by sending them to: news@ebrha.com -Place “Town Hall Questions” in the subject line. SAVE THE DATE TO REGISTER SCAN QR CODE WITH CELLPHONE CAMERA (OR) VISIT WWW.EBRHA.COM
Owners
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* SEPTEMBER 5 Labor Day * SEPTEMBER 1 10:00AM CalVIP 2.0 Golden State Priority Project Webinar SEPTEMBER 8 3-4:30PM Identity Theft and Fraudulent RecognitionDocument Presented by Dan Firestone of CIC SEPTEMBER 13 2-3:30PM The Roundtable Presented by President Wayne Rowland * SEPTEMBER 14 11:00AM Navigating the Ins and Outs of Data Privacy * SEPTEMBER 22 10:00AM Housing Informational Webinar for Fremont Prop erty and Managers SEPTEMBER 27 3-4:30 PM Updates and Q&A Featuring JP Morgan Story OCTOBER 11 10:00AM EBRHA 360 Annual Trade Show (In-Person) OCTOBER 13 2-3:30PM Winter Preparation for Your Property Presented by Scott Isacksen of TCI Building Services OCTOBER 18 3-4:00PM Free Home Assessments and EV Charging Grants Presented by Bay Area Quality Management District OCTOBER 20 2-3:30PM The Forum Presented by Dan Lieberman * OCTOBER 10:00AM-3PM22 The Plant Exchange More info theplantexchange.comat: OCTOBER 25 3-4:30PM Member Updates and Q&A Featuring John Caronna OCTOBER 27 3-4:30PM Member PresentedOrientationbyEBRHA Staff * OCTOBER 31 Halloween * NON-EBRHA WOULD
Member
EVENTS IF YOU
LIKE TO PITCH AN EVENT FOR THE CALENDAR, PLEASE EMAIL EDITOR@EBRHA.COM FIND THE LATEST EBRHA EVENTS & REGISTER AT WEB.EBRHA.COM/EVENTS Calendar
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EBRHA members can earn a 2% annual rebate on all in-store and homedepot.com purchases. Sign up for your free Home Depot Pro Xtra account and use program code HDNAA-EBAA to start earning today. Plus, save up to 20% OFF BEHR® Paints, Stains and Primers. Contact a BEHR PRO® Account Manager at behrpro.com/rep for details or sign up at homedepot.com/ProXtra. *For in-store and homedepot.com purchases. Annual purchases mus t total a minimum of $25,000 to qualify for the rebate. See homedepot.com/c/ProXtra_TermsandConditions for Pro Xtra pro gram details. EBRHA MEMBERS EARN 2% CASH BACK ON EVERY PURCHASE*
What would you like to see happen when it comes to homelessness in the city?
12 SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM MAYORAL CANDIDATE SPOTLIGHT
We know it’s based on resources and money. We already have a housing crisis with people employed and working with different income levels, and they’re looking for housing. We’re already struggling to build housing for everyday people. So, it’s difficult to provide housing for the homeless. We have to be able to expedite the process to build homes and shelters faster to move people from streets to shelters to homes. We need to develop a strategy and offer help for homeless people sleeping in the streets, walkways, or in front of businesses. We need empathy and compassion while also having zero tolerance. My job as an elected leader is to support businesses, because business brings tax revenue. I can’t recruit businesses without considering the impact of homelessness around those businesses. If I don’t, I’m putting business in jeopardy in San Leandro. I need to understand impacts to run and manage a city and count on tax revenue.
I look at providers in San Leandro, and I look at them like a company with employees. Companies have good or bad employees. One bad employee doesn’t mean the entire company is bad. Using that same lens in housing, you may have a bad housing provider, but it doesn’t mean all providers are bad. You’ve got advocates advocating for renters or property owners, but they lump everybody into one group – and it’s not fair. If we’re going to resolve our housing problem, we can’t assume or lump everybody into one group or do something that won’t support people and keep them in housing. I’ve spoken to property owners who tell me their rents are way below market, but it’s okay with them. They have a good renter who pays on time – and that right there is a symbiotic, positive relationship. Yet leaders still want to put restrictions and parameters when they’re a good housing provider.
LEE THOMAS, MAYORAL CANDIDATE, SAN LEANDRO Lee Thomas has dedicated years serving San Leandro residents in multiple capacity, from government to volun teering on non-profit boards. These positions include serving as a Vice Mayor/City Council Member, Human Service Commissioner, Board of Zoning Member, Police Chief Advisory Board Mem ber, Floresta Home Owners President, San Leandro Education Foundation Board Member, San Leandro Rota ry Member and as a Board Member for the San Leandro Scholarship Foundation.
I think we’re in a state right now where you have to lead with empa thy and compassion – at least when looking at the homeless. You have to lead with empathy and compassion to understand the root causes and how you as a leader are going to be willing to tackle it. You need to be empathic to understand correlation or root causes; what has gotten a person into a situa tion? Then you need to be empathetic to it. As a leader, what do you do to use empathy in leadership to find resolu tions or answers to what you’re being called to do? What is your point-of-view on the rental property owner industry? We had a housing element study done. Forty-four percent of the San Leandro housing market are rentals. We hear from folks who talk about rent increases, rent stabilization or rent control that they feel needs to come in. What I don’t hear people talking about are the facts and data that tells us why. Whenever decisions are made in government, they should be done using facts and data.
There is a new movement toward leading with empathy and compas sion, what do you think about that?
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roperty insurance provides protection against unexpected accidents and disasters. Great insurance coverage gives property owners and renters reassur ance that in the event of the unexpected, losses will be covered. So, it’s important to understand the different types of property insurance and what it provides and protects. What will you need, espe cially here in California where wild fires, earthquakes, flooding and other natural disasters are common? “One of the most important things you can do as a rental property owner is to secure property insurance,” said Max Benz, founder and CEO of Bank ingGeek ( bankinggeek.com), “This type of insurance will protect you finan cially if your property is damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster or other event. It will also provide coverage if your renter suffers an injury on the property. In addition, property insur ance can help you to avoid liability in the event that someone is injured on your property and sues you. As you can see, property insurance is an essen tial part of being a responsible rental property owner. Make sure you secure adequate coverage for your property before renting it out to renters.”
According to Daniel Barrett, CEO of Adwords, a Google Partner agency that works with real estate investors, “A typical property insurance policy will include coverage for property damage resulting from fire, smoke, and windstorms, personal property loss due to theft or vandalism, and liability protection against accidents on your rental property (including lawsuits filed by renters).” He added, “There are also other types of coverage that can be added onto a basic policy, such as replace ment cost coverage (which covers the cost to replace your property with new materials rather than paying out a depreciated amount), additional living expenses (which provide money for temporary housing if you need to relocate due to damage on your rental property), and more.”
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“Similar to the property owner policy, there are rental condo policies that are set up in the same specific manner, except covering the condo unit inside only. These policies cover all-perils loss unless excluded. Commonly covered losses are plumbing bursts and water damage, fire, smoke, vandalism, or physical damage from trees. The most common exclusions are earthquakes, floods, war, and wear and tear.”
Inform INSURANCE
PROPERTY
P
Property investors typically use two types of insurance policies: property or rental dwelling policy or busi ness and commercial packages. The dwelling policy covers insurance on a single-family home up to four units. It can also cover regular rentals and short-term rentals (e.g., seasonal or vacation“Theseproperties).covereverything from the dwelling’s structure to the property owner’s appliances, loss of rent, other structures on the premises, and liability for premises specific to something like invasion of privacy or slip-and-fall cas es,” explained William Lemmon, owner and agency principal for Broadway In surance Services based in Los Angeles.
Good When“Policies”ItComestoPropertyInsurance
By Michelle Gamble
Michelle Gamble is the editor of Rental Housing Magazine.
Business and commercial packages cover rental properties with five units or more or commercial renters. “They generally cover the same criteria as before but are arranged a little bit differently,” said Lemmon. “Covering the building, the property owner’s personal property (if any), loss of business income or rents, and gener al liability, which is typically set at a higher amount than personal policies. Practically the same similarity on covered perils and exclusions as the property owner and rental dwellings.
“One of the most important things you can do as a rental property owner is to secure property insurance...”
CHOOSING A LEGITIMATE INSURANCE PROVIDER As property owners go to purchase insurance, it’s important to select an insurance company that will meet your needs and avoid low-cost providers whose coverage isn’t adequate or even scammers. “Be leery of companies that approach you following a natural di saster,” advised Musson. “They’ll likely want you to sign repairs over to them and allow them to work directly with your insurer. It may seem convenient, but this situation is often associated with insurance scams.” Marina Vaamonde, owner and found er of HouseCashin based in Houston, Texas, said, “Always meet with your in surance agent. Moreover, look up their agent number online and check with the Better Business Bureau to verify theirNotlegitimacy.”allinsurance companies are created equal. Start by researching companies that specialize in property owner policies. “You need a specific type of coverage, and companies that deal with your situation every day can help you find the best policy for your needs,” said Musson. “Compare premi ums and deductibles. Property owners with many properties may want to choose a higher deductible because it would be better for them to pay for some costs out of pocket instead of filing a claim because the premiums could increase following a claim.” Avoid agents that don’t specialize in or typically write business policies that don’t fall in line with rentals and/ or commercial rental properties. These agents don’t always have the expertise you need. “This will lead to many mis understandings and likely just a lack of variety when it comes to your needs,” said Lemmon. “Agents that specialize have the markets and know-how to find solutions you’re going to need with minimum back and forth.”
“There are other specific property policies like earthquake and flood that can also be purchased in line with all of the above, which normally follow the approximate limits as stated above, but only cover the one specific peril of loss only.”
As noted, property policies that cover earthquakes and floods typically fall under what is considered structure insurance. Here in California, struc ture insurance offers protection to the house or apartment or business com plex. “Structure insurance will pay for damage to your rental’s structure and exterior. It will also cover damage to flooring and built-in interior features if a covered event causes damage,” said Melanie Musson, an insurance expert with Clearinsurance.com. She has expe rience in California hazards and law. She added, “Loss-of-use insurance will cover your lost income if your rental unit is uninhabitable following a covered event. Earthquake insurance is a policy that’s appropriate for much of California. It’s an additional policy or rider, and it covers damage from an earthquake that standard insurance does not cover.”
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When it comes to cost, cheaper isn’t always better, which is not to suggest you shouldn’t search for an affordable rate. Just don’t default to the lowest price. “Without question, the lower price is never always the best answer,” said Lemmon. “It could very well be, but, there are so many different criteria that need to be met first. This should never be the end-all reason to purchase insurance or go with a certain agent. As a buyer, you’ll find yourself spending more time dealing with comparing insurance poli cies rather than working on your actual property business. The wiser choice as an investor would be to spend more time finding the better agent and using that agent for what they’re good at.”
Educate REVOLUTIONIZING HOUSING IN CALIFORNIA
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Today’s legislative overhauled laws that made it even more difficult to im plement creative problem solving for the housing crisis. Yet now, one of the most promising concepts for adding housing is through making Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) more afford able and feasible. They don’t need to be only on very high-end properties anymore. They can be located on most single-family lots and the fees have been decreased dramatically.
By Susan Belknapp, California Business Journal
Perpetual Homes is creating prefabricated, full-sized, modern-design Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) that is revolutionizing housing in California
People love our quality and the price.”
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SAMOJEDNYKRISTINA
One look at the Perpetual Homes photo gallery will tell you these are not your granny’s granny flat. The homes are modern luxury with a variety of exterior structures and model-home interiors. Everything is full-sized and made of sustainable materials. ADUs can range in size from a 430-square-foot, one-bedroom, onebath unit, to three-bedroom, two-bath, 1,200-square-foot plans and custom sizes can be discussed. They have bath rooms, heating, air conditioning and laundry areas available. A décor center lets buyers pick out their high-end flooring, cabinets, countertops, tile, etc. just like any other new-home build. “ADU fees used to be over $100,000 for under 750 square feet to build on most lots,” Anderson says. “Several laws passed in 2020 at the state level to override the most limiting local city and county ordinances. These center on reducing required setback space from fences or lot lines, eliminating the need for fire sprinklers in most situations and lowering impact fees if under 750 square feet. Setback laws used to require 20 feet, but now it’s only four feet and side yards needed to be 20 feet wide but now it’s four feet.”
Katherine Anderson, a real estate and homebuilding expert with more than 38 years’ experience in the hous ing industry, saw an incredible niche for expanding the preconceived notion of an ADU and knew the idea could help homeowners add to their property for a fraction of the previous price without the red tape and added fees. Soon thereafter, she launched Per petual“There’sHomesareason why we have these housing issues in California,” she told California Business Journal. “We are short two million units in California and there is a huge demand. Even when you try to develop apartments with a percentage of affordable units, they cost about $600,000 a unit to build. “That isn’t sustainable.”
There have been many efforts to deploy solutions that focused on cre ating smaller dwellings to help solve the housing scarcity, such as Operation Tiny Home for veterans. But not every one is able to adapt to the tiny-home life and still, the ADU fees and space requirements for a full-sized home on an existing lot were exorbitant. “I saw this opportunity being able to provide very nice, high-end cottages at an affordable price,” Anderson says. “I did a lot of research, and I came across different options with the highest quality. We decided to do manufac tured housing and I applied to become a dealer with Skyline Champion. They allowed me to do custom designs with my own plans and we came up with some great options and built a model.
Assembly Bills 68 and 881 relaxed these ordinances statewide. Other elements eased include removing the minimum-lot-size requirement, reducing parking requirements and shortening the time frame for get ting site plans reviewed by cities and counties. Additionally, Senate Bill 9, signed into law by Gov. Newsom in September 2021, is a revolutionary approach that will allow single-family homeowners to add an ADU to their property and then do a “lot split,” which would allow them to parcel two lots with homes as opposed to one. The primary requirement is that
ore than enceCalifornians161,548experihomelessness on any given day. That’s according to a report by the U.S. Inter agency Council on Homelessness. The numbers, naturally, will continue to rise because of the high cost of living. Strict housing laws and the prohibitive cost of building housing have exacer bated these issues.
“It’s really rewarding to see how we’re able to help family members in particular,” Anderson says. “We have so many ways we can customize for their needs and a portion of each sale goes to help the homeless crisis in California.”
Even if you’re not in the market for a full ADU – or want to start small – Per petual Homes offers an “office shack” option, which can be an office, art, music, or yoga studio, she shed/man cave, kids’ playroom, gym – whatever you’d like – as a separate dwelling.
The homes are made in a factory so it is easier to get each component inspected, limiting total inspections from about 13 if you were to build an ADU from scratch to only about two, which are for the foundation. “It helps many of our clients pay their mortgage and the return on investment is 15 to 18 percent plus,” Anderson adds. “It’s a great invest ment. We have one client that rents their ADU to traveling nurses and oth ers have it for parents who travel part of the year. The multifamily element is the most popular right now – young adults starting out, older parents coming to live or homeowners aging in place. Some decide to move to the ADU and rent out their main house.”
There’s also a new CalHFA grant for $40,000 for low-to-moderate income levels. If you qualify, you can put the money toward an ADU and it does not have to be paid back.
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the owner must live in either the main house or the ADU for at least three years before they can do the split. There are many caveats so make sure to research the details but it could prove an excellent investment for many current homeowners. Perpetual Homes handles every thing for the build including permits, utilities and the foundation. The firm also does full project management and helps arrange financing. “We do everything from A to Z,” Anderson says. “We have five drafters and an architect. We research where the sewer lines are, where the water and power connect, and we submit to the city and/or county to get your per mit approvals. We’ll even do Geotech reports if the city or county requires them. We are probably the most experienced ADU builder, in terms of entitlement, in California.”
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By Cambria Risley
If you want your property man ager to have heart, look at some key things. Do they have genuine concern
W hen it’s time to hire a property manager, you want this group or individual to reflect your professional values, principles and beliefs. Your property manager will be representing you to your renters. So, it’s imperative that you find property managers who will treat your renters with the same care and respect you would give them. As you begin your selection pro cess, you will want to do the same due diligence as you would when hiring anyone. “There are a few key things to look for when trying to identify reputable property managers,” said Oberon Copeland, owner and CEO Of Veryinformed.com. “First, check to see if the property management company is a member of a professional organiza tion, such as the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM). This shows that the com pany is serious about its business and committed to following best practices.” People tend to put their best foot forward, so how they present during the hiring process may not necessarily reflect reality. You will have to become a kind of sleuth to find out just how exactly this company behaves toward renters and how they treat the property itself. “To find a property manager that treats renters with respect and dignity, look for a company with many longterm renters,” said Dennis Shirshikov, strategist at Awning.com. “It’s well known that a happy renter is a longterm renter, so a property manager that boasts low vacancy and low turnover is likely treating renters very well.”
HIRING PROPERTY MANAGERS WITH HEART
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20 SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM Connect
Ask about what the property manag er does to create a sense of communi ty. “One way a property management company can create a more commu nity-like feel is by hosting events for renters,” said Spinelli. “This could include BBQs, holiday parties or other gatherings. This is a great way to get to know your renters and make them feel like they are part of a community.
You can also lead the charge in com munication, too. “Make sure you clearly communicate your expectations for how you want your renters to be treated.
And there you have it, a blueprint to finding a property manager with heart.
While the suggestions made above reflect what you should consider the basics, the company you select to rep resent your interests, should be the one that demonstrated a real commitment to renters and the community they live in. The average property manager probably does some or all of the things just shared, but what should you look for to differentiate one from the other?
“Another way to create a sense of community is by offering amenities that encourage social interaction,” she added. “This could include a commu nity garden, a dog park, or a common area for renters to gather. By providing these types of amenities, you can help create a more tight-knit community feel among your renters.”
Cambria Risley is a bay area writer. “Make sure you clearly communicate your expecta tions for how you want your renters to be treated.”
There are a few things that prop erty management companies can do to create a more community-like feel with their renters. “First, they can en courage renters to interact with each other,” said Shaun Martin, Business owner and CEO of Denver Home Buy er. “This can be done by hosting events or creating common areas where renters can gather. Second, property management companies can create a sense of pride in the community by maintaining high standards for the property. This includes keeping the grounds clean and well-maintained.
Sometimes, though, it’s the little things that put that extra touch on the renter experience and shows that a property manager really cares about how the renter feels. “One of my cli ents moved from a different city and everything was new for them,” added Sanborn. “After renting a property, they were feeling out of place and not at home. The property management com pany that was handling their residen tial unit went out of their way to make the new renters feel welcome. Since they were managing the entire build ing, they were able to convince other renters to host an event to welcome their new neighbors. The company also participated and helped the new rent ers feel a part of a community and build strong relationships with them.”
SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM 21 for their community, employees and renters? If so, that’s an excellent sign you’ve found the right property man ager. “Look for those that are involved in local charities or give back in other ways,” said Jennifer Spinelli, founder and CEO of Watson Buys. “These are the types of managers that will go above and beyond to make sure your property is well-cared for.” It’s also essential that your property manager be a superior communicator. You need to know how they manage communication with renters. “Read online reviews from past and present clients,” said Copeland. “This will give you an idea of what type of experience other people have had with the compa ny. Finally, schedule a meeting with the property manager to get a sense of their personality and communication style.”
ABOVE AND BEYOND
Finally, property management com panies can show that they care about their renters by being responsive to their needs and concerns.”
“Customer service in property management is about being proactive, and service matters,” said Jon Sanborn, co-founder of Brotherly Love Real Estate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “Relationships don’t happen overnight. They require time and communication. Many property managers use skills such as empathy and open communica tion to navigate tricky situations.” You will want to ask questions about communication tools used to stay in touch with renters. “Property manag ers should proactively communicate with renters,” said Spinelli. “This could include sending out monthly newslet ters or letting renters know about up coming maintenance or repair projects. By keeping renters in the loop, they will feel more comfortable and confident that their needs are being met.”
If you expect them to be treated with respect and dignity, make sure that is included in your lease agreement. This will give the property manager a clear understanding of your expectations and help ensure that they are met.”
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22 SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM Quake Bracing Manufacturing Company West Coast Premier Construction Owens Real Estate State Farm - Kelly Lux Fire & Damage Recovery Edrington & Associates Kasa Properties Meet Our Exhibitors EBRHA 360 ANNUAL TRADE EXPO - 2022 EXHIBITORS BRONZESILVERGOLD EBRHA supports our growing membership of 1,500+ housing providers who own/manage/maintain more than 43,000 rental housing units across Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Place yourself at the center of this lucrative market by exploring opportunities to exhibit, sponsor, and/or advertise with EBRHA! Why EXHIBIT at EBRHA 360 Annual Trade Expo? • Make a lasting impression with added credibility • Develop meaningful relationships with top industry professionals • Advertising and membership promotions are included in your Gold or Platinum package. • Exclusive brand promotion through July 2023 to new and existing members • Priority consideration for article publication, advertising promotions, webinar opportunities, and more! Enhance your Exhibitor package with a Sponsorship!
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SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM 23 STOCKIMAGES/ADOBEHERO Trade Expo Tickets Complimentary tickets: • Standard Members (2) • Advanced Members (4) • Enterprise Pro Members (6) Any Additional Guest: $25 Affiliate Subscribers: $25 Non-members: $50 Benefits Discover new solutions to rental housing challenges, expand your network of like-minded professionals, and elevate your knowledge on current rental housing policies and practices, all under one roof in an action-packed Trade Expo event. Networking & Relationship Building Access to our expansive indoor-outdoor expo floor, featur ing a comprehensive list of suppliers and vendors serving the East Bay rental housing community. Quality one-on-one time with a variety of exhibitors, including attorneys, insur ers, contractors, builders, remodelers, lenders, community partners and others. Food & Beverages A light breakfast and lunch will be provided Added Attractions LIVE Roundtable with Waye Rowland Legislative panal discussion Meet Our Exhibitors Quake Brace Manufacturing Company Bay Area Bin Support West Coast Premier Construction, Inc General Roofing Story by JP Morgan Owens Real Estate Precision Concrete Cutting State Farm - Kelly Lux Yardi FireHomeBreezeDepot&Water Damage Recovery Edrington & Associates Kasa Properties TICKETS ON SALE THROUGH OCTOBER 11 - EBRHA 360 - TRADE EXPO 2022 LEARN MORE AT EBRHANOW.COM/EXPO 510.893.9873 | MEMBERSHIP@EBRHA.COM | EBRHA.COM Join us on Wednesday, Octoberr29, 10am-3:30 PM, at the Pleasant Hill Community Center for our 15th Annual EBRHA 360 Trade Expo. The beautiful Pleasant Hill Community Center is the perfect backdrop for housing providers, suppliers and vendors to interact, share rental housing best practices, and understand the latest legislative policies impacting rental property owners and managers.
24 SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM Advocate EXAMINING THE EVICTION MORATORIUM
By Michelle Gamble
Alameda County Retains Eviction Moratorium and Gives Renters a Free Ride
If you walk around these days, you will see some people still wearing masks. It reminds us about COVID-19. It’s easy to forget about the pandemic because people still wearing masks are in the minority. Not to mention that large, indoor venues, which attract huge crowds, don’t require masks anymore. People feel protected and safe and are eager to resume their pre-pandemic routines and interactions with others. These observations would indicate that COVID health emergency man dates are no longer needed. Despite these positive indicators, rental property owners were surprised to read the news that Alameda Coun ty had voted 2-3 on July 20, 2022 to not consider modifying the county’s eviction moratorium. This decision couldn’t have been based on renters’ abilities to pay, not when you consider our robust economy and historically low unemployment rates as of July 2022. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state of California unemployment rate was at 3.5%, which is the lowest it has been since February 2020 (pre-pandemic) and significantly lower than its peak in April 2020 when it reached 14.7 percent. Since most cities and counties have lifted COVID restrictions, why didn’t Alameda County’s moratorium get lifted too? Why is the Board of Su pervisors using the pandemic to give thousands of renters a free ride at the expense of property owners – people who also have families to feed and count on rental income to pay bills related to property management maintenance and repairs? Cities like Los Angeles, Oakland and San Diego still have significant eviction restrictions or bans, along with Alameda County. In an article titled “Emergency Bans on Evictions and Other Renter Protections Related to Coronavirus” by Ann O’Connell, an attorney, it provided a chart of states that still had bans on evictions. No other state has eviction bans in place. This makes perfect sense, because we have vaccines and the rates of new COVID cases have declined. In the state of California, we have an aver age daily number of cases at 11,289, which means much like the flu, this is a manageable illness. As we move for ward, COVID will be a part of the virus family in which we get vaccinations. It’s not a crisis or an emergency. It’s a part of life. One look at China where SARS became a problem long before COVID-19, the Chinese learned to cope through mask-wearing by choice notWhatmandate.isobvious, and certainly irrational, is the Board of Supervisors seemingly adopted a mentality that in their county the mere existence of the virus should make the eviction moratorium permanent. What’s next? Is Monkey Pox going to be the new ex cuse, a virus that is far more contain able than COVID, as it’s spread skin to skin? If we pose the argument that the virus hasn’t gone away, therefore, the eviction moratorium should stay in place then the supposition about Monkey Pox applies … and then the next virus … and then the next virus, and so Whaton.is the thinking behind this irrational decision? In reviewing doc uments provided by the county, a clear bias toward renters’ rights revealed a gross lack of consideration toward rental property owners. It’s a type of social programming that hurts the market while permanently victimiz ing renters. Property owners are not heartless and they care about renters, too, but this is “stinken’ thinken”. Recently EBRHA initiated a request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Why does the Board of Supervisors only lean toward renter concerns? Because the documentation provided about their decision clearly showed bias. In a correspondence to the Clerk of the Board, Leo Esclamado, co-direc tor of My Eden Voice, emphasized that the pandemic isn’t over and renters still suffer. Esclamado contends that renters are often one paycheck away from being behind and get harassed by property owners. Complaints were also directed toward property owners who don’t keep up with maintenance and safety hazards. (Note: Esclamado expressed no concerns in the FOIA information about property owners’ economic and tenant-related struggles during the pandemic.)
In a letter written by Dan Pan, a representative from an organization titled BAHN, he articulated it perfectly. He said, “We are one America, suf fering together. Our legislators can’t use COVID-19 as a cover to continue punishing one particular group – hous ing providers.” Pan is right. As noted by Escalmado, a mentality exists that rental property owners harass renters and don’t make repairs. Let’s break that down a bit. How would any other busi ness owner feel when their finances have been drained by consumers who aren’t paying and they’re expected to continue providing services? As small property owners, how are we supposed to pay mortgages and expenses without income – paying renters’ maintenance services and utilities while not being able to pay our own?
tality and belief is that small property owners, which most of our members are mom-and-pop businesses, should completely subsidize renters. Rental property owners are evil slum lords who don’t deserve to be paid for their services, and their needs don’t matter, is simply wrong, misguided and flawed.
An unfair and unbalanced mentality prevails that renters’ rights should overrule property owners’ basic busi ness rights. Yes, businesses should have rights, too. No one works or should provide services for free or doesn’t have to pay bills. Yet renters, whose leases often include utilities and maintenance expenses paid by the property owner, aren’t being required to pay for housing and related services – not yet anyway. Retailers, grocery stores, insurance companies and auto lenders have not been mandated in the same way. “Free” rent sounds appealing. Some renters took the money provided by the federal government under the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and used it not to pay rent but to purchase cars, go on vacation or even buy a home. No rent payment and a new home, and as Larry David would say in HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, “Pretty, pretty good.” Now why wouldn’t anyone take advantage of this great opportunity? Other renters just took the ERAP money or vacated the rental property and left owners with tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid rent. Judgment, morality and fairness are principles that the Board of Supervisors didn’t apply in making their decision.
Clearly most of the Board of Super visors feel they should only represent the majority of constituents that are renters versus property owners. The board is more interested in keeping their positions of authority than doing the right thing and being good public servants for everyone.
In Alameda County, it’s okay to give renters a pass when most California municipalities and all other states have lifted the moratorium. The economy is booming, and the virus is in de cline, and the situation is not as dire, compared to 2020. But, it’s completely unreasonable for property owners to demand fair business practices be applied to them. The prevailing men
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Michelle Gamble is the editor of Rental Housing Magazine.
THE POWER OF FENG SHUI L et’s say you have what you feel is a nice unit or home you want to rent. People come see it, and it seems like it should rent quickly, but for some unknown reason it just doesn’t seem to get rented. It might sound “airy-fairy,” as some skeptics would put it, but the energies could be off. How it’s designed, painted or even landscaped could be inadvertently repelling prospective renters. It might seem nontradition al, but consider an alternative design approach by using Feng Shui to change the energies, and therefore, the attrac tion to the property. “Feng Shui is an ancient tradition used for thousands of years and can be described as, ‘The ancient Chinese art of placement,’” explained Shari Borkin, MA ATR and Feng Shui expert from Dixon, California-based Fun Changes.com. She uses these ancient techniques to help sell or rent homes. “The goal is to ensure a smooth energy flow (Chi) in your environment. This can impact your mental, physical and emotional state of being, and can bring balance and harmony into your life. This energy flow can also affect your plants and pets.” Borkin added, “Feng Shui supports theories of quantum physics, that everything is made up of particles of energy, vibrating at different speeds. Understanding the Feng Shui Bagua map, that shows what areas in your home connect to aspects of yourself. The Bagua areas are: prosperity, repu Feng Shui
Inspire
By Brea Harper
Your Rental Properties and Attract the Renters You Want
SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM 27 STOCK/ADOBEMSTOCK tation, relationships, family, centered self, creativity, knowledge, life path, and helpful people. Understanding energy flow increases your personal power to manifest your every dream. The knowledge of Feng Shui can help you to activate energies in each area of your home.”
GETTING STARTED How can property owners begin the process of applying Feng Shui to their properties? Owners can hire a consul tant or study up on some basics and apply them. “Feng Shui can make you feel welcome into a space as opposed to a property without it,” said Joe Ferguson, architectural joiner at SkirtingsRus.com. “Imagine modern homes with huge glass windows as you open the doors, they are known as a no-no in Feng Shui as they let bless ings go out so quickly. Walls are seen similar to how mountains can distrib ute rivers and irrigate lands.” To get started, consider the front of the rental units or home. “There are a few key ways that property owners can use Feng Shui to attract high-quality renters,” said Jennifer Spinelli, founder and CEO of Watson Buys based in Col orado. “First, it is important to create a good first impression by ensuring that the entrance to the property is clean, well-lit and inviting. Also, the property should be well-maintained and orga nized in a way that promotes a feeling of calm and order. Finally, it is bene ficial to add some personal touches to the space that will make renters feel welcome and comfortable.”
Next, consider the front yard, as that is critical to curb appeal. Try to add positive elements that slow the flow of chi. These elements can be trees, potted plants or shrubs. Keep them neatly trimmed and remove any weeds or dead materials. Dead items can act like a “sponge” for positive chi. “The subconscious mind picks up symbols, images and smells,” said Borkin. “A potential client will always go with their gut feelings. “The building itself, should be an ap pealing color, present clean, be in good condition, on the outside and inside. Good lighting on the outside of the property, to highlight the front yard and walkway is important to represent an inviting atmosphere. Appealing landscaping, soft, rounded leaves on plants as you enter the building. A pot ted geranium plant of red flowers can attract the eye toward the front door (where the eye goes, energy flows), and never use spikey or attacking-looking plants upon entering. Outside place a clean ‘welcome’ mat. An appealing, clean rug inside the front door, and consider adding nine coins under the inside rug for attracting abundance.” Then there’s the front door. Accord ing to an article in The Spruce titled “Create Good Feng Shui in the Main Entry of Your Home” by Anjie Cho, “The formal front door (the main entrance to your home) is one of the most important areas to look at when it comes to Feng Shui. It’s often called the mouth of qi, because it’s how energy and opportunities enter your home. Your front door is also the first thing visitors see when they arrive, as well as the first thing you see when you come home, so it can really set the tone for your experience of the space.” Borkin says to paint the door red to attract the eye of potential renters. The red door comes from an Ameri can tradition. A red door welcomed travelers to let them know this home was a welcoming place where they could stay and rest. Making people feel “invited” and “welcomed” creates that good energy and attraction to come into the Finally,home.theinterior requires the same amount of consideration as the outside. If you’ve ever walked into a residence and gotten an “off” vibe, it’s usually related to energy flow. “The help of a Feng Shui practitioner to per form a clearing on any property can remove any negative or stale energies,” said Borkin. “This can be repeated af ter several viewings to keep the energy clean. visible”vacant,aswhenelementsShuicombineerwastebathroomrejuvenateration.bathroomwouldfightingaddedthatAnhavearchitecturebecancolor(EMF)Electro-magnetic-frequencycuresarealwaysgood.Alightonthewallsisbest,soapersonimaginewhatpersonalitemscanonthewalls,andthisshowsofftheforfurnitureplacement.“Theinsideofarentalcouldalsobeenbuiltwithfightingelements.examplewouldbeakitchensinkisdirectlyacrossfromastove,”Borkin.“Thisisfireandwatereachother.AnotherexamplebeifabedroomhasajoiningwithoutadoorforsepaOurbedroomsareaplacetoourenergeticbodies,theisusedtoremoveandridmostlydownadrain.Iwillnevunderstandwhyanarchitectwouldthesetwoelements.AFengpractitionerhascuresforfightingthataclientmaypickuponviewingaspace.”So,ifyourpropertiesaren’trentingfastyouwouldlikeorremainingFengShuicouldofferthe“inanswertotheproblem.
Brea Harper is a Bay Area writer.
Creating a Sense of Community FOR WORKERSREMOTE
28 SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM
By Sergio Chidichimo
Residents’ focus on relevant community amenities, light ning-speed internet packages, common areas with connec tivity and spaces that foster collaboration – such as WeWork stations and conference rooms – has become even more prominent in 2022. These are investments that most oper ators weren’t making a few years back and even fewer were incorporating them into the development process.
To keep pace, the rental housing industry has to adjust ac cordingly. Given that so many professionals are residing in rental housing, the remote-work capability at communities has to increase.
The work-from-home trend was already underway be fore the pandemic, when 20 percent of employees worked at home most or all of the time, according to data from Pew Research. While the percentage peaked at 71 percent during the height of the pandemic, nearly half of Americans contin ue to work from home for at least part of the workweek. Ac cording to Owl Labs, remote work has increased 91 percent over the last decade and 44 percent in the past five years.
While many of these items now qualify as must-haves for some renters, a handful of not-so-apparent amenities can greatly improve the experience of a work-from-home resi dent and make a rental community much more enticing to them. Because the apartment sector also is home to many families – and many of the parents work remotely – children often need something to occupy their time during the work day. Working parents are unable to monitor their children as well as they would during their free-time hours, of course, which has prompted some communities to incorporate des ignated activity spaces for kids.
GROWING PROMINENCE
n the not-so-distant past, flashy amenities were a primary way to catch the eye of discerning renters. The more the amenity exuded the ambience of a re laxing, resort-like experience, the better.
Additionally, outdoor working spaces are becoming a key attraction for remote workers at communities in loca
I
Likewise, similar in-home features can be equally im portant for the modern renter. Anything that enhances re mote work, such as built-in nooks for a mini home office, Zoom-worthy communication spaces, noise-reduced homes and prime connectivity all qualify.
While rooftop decks, hotel-inspired swimming pools and posh courtyards still hold value, they no longer serve as tiebreaking factors to renters – at least not as prom inently. The work-from-home boom has given residents more of a practical approach when seeking amenities, and co-working spaces, private workstations, reliable Wi-Fi, and conference rooms are often more important than a pan oramic rooftop view.
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30 SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM
While the work-from-home boom has altered the blue prints of rental communities in the predevelopment pro cess, the challenge is different for existing communities. Op erators that acquire existing assets are wise to incorporate work-from-home elements into their value-add processes, even if it’s as simple as refreshing apartment interiors to be a little more worker-friendly.
PROMOTING A NEW RESIDENT EXPERIENCE
Likewise, marketing teams would be savvy to incorporate more information about the community’s work-from-home capabilities into their outreach. With homes now occupied
The rising number of individuals working from home has also increased the sense of community at many properties. Buildings that had been barren during the day are now bus tling with a fair sample size of work-from-home residents. As such, it’s highly recommended for onsite teams to dedicate even more focus to the resident experience. This includes the adoption of tech tools that can help operators more efficiently communicate with residents and give them the option to re ceive notifications on their preferred medium.
tions where the climate (or season) allows. As such, some properties have modified social gathering areas into more work-centric spaces. These spaces also can serve as a respite for remote workers who might spend the day inside but want to momentarily relax near nature trails, lakes and whatever additional attractions border the community.
“...outdoor working spaces are becoming a key attraction for remote workers...”
Reprinted with permission from the National Apartment Association Sergio Chidichimo is Senior Vice President of Operations for Birchstone Residential. He is a member of the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas’ 2022-2023 Board of Directors.
more than ever by remote workers, features such as pool views, proximity to the fitness center or having a home ad jacent to the courtyard may become more attractive to resi dents and could potentially drive premiums. Outreach efforts can also tout services adopted by the community that can help aid the at-home workday. For example, communities can partner with local pet-walking agencies, offer onsite dry cleaning, provide housekeeping services or anything else that can aid a busy remote work er. This can even include improved fitness centers now that many residents will be more conscious of their health while largely remaining at home. Onsite teams previously focused almost exclusively on leasing because many residents were offsite during the weekday hours, but the focus has changed. They now must adjust and dedicate a significant portion of the workday to ward enhancing the resident experience. That objective can begin early in the operations process, as some operators are now training leasing agents to be even more engaging and customer-centric. Those professionalism-boosting training efforts can expand to the maintenance team, as these associ ates now more frequently interact with residents during the workweek. Creating a healthy morale among increasingly at-home residents is something that can permeate through the building and aid in resident-retention efforts. Although the propensity to work from home has cooled since the height of the pandemic, the trend is here to stay in the apartment world. Companies across the globe are con tinuing to offer remote work as a perk to attract and retain employees, as the percentage of U.S. companies that disal low remote work of any kind has dropped to a mere 44 per cent, according to the Owl Labs study. Operators that embrace the boom, incorporate workfrom-home spaces, add relevant services to aid remote workers – and are very intentional in their marketing efforts to highlight these qualities – are one step ahead of the curve. And thankfully, unlike other temporary trends in the past, they don’t have to worry about this one being a passing fad.
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When a renter feels seen and heard by property owners then long-term, loyal relationships form. Goodwill between prop erty owners and renters retains quality renters and prevents turnover, which can be quite costly and add up to thousands of dollars lost in the search for new renters. In fact, renter turnover can cost an average of $1,000 to $5,000 per rental.
A unique and inspiring method of building relationships with renters and communities is what San Francisco-based Mosser calls “benevolent capitalism,” which calls for prop erty owners to become architects and catalysts for making neighborhoods better places. “Mosser makes a huge effort in this area, and it’s meaningful, as they work with lower-in come residents in some of the most transitional areas of San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles – so their efforts go a long way,” said Cindi Goodsell, director at Mosser. “By stra tegically investing in and improving neighborhoods that need some positive attention, the company, our renters and the local community all win. Our goal is to be good commu nity stewards to lead by example and partner with the com munity to leave the communities we work in better than we found them.
The answer requires property owners to think outside of the box and consider more than rent collection and an oc casional gesture of acknowledgement. It means treating your renters like family and making them feel a part of the community they live in. Property owners who understand the deeply personal nature of their business will build longterm relationships, because their renters know they care about them and the community.
o one wants to feel like just another link in the corporate chain – and this is especial ly true when you’re providing a home for someone. A home is where we live, enjoy our families and friends, and raise our children.
N
“There is definitely a stigma that property owners don’t care about their properties, the communities they are in, or the people who live in them,” explained Terry Lynette, pres ident of Techpresident.com and a participant in an iLand lord training program. “However, there are plenty of prop erty owners out there who not only care about those things, but who go above and beyond to help improve them.”
BUILDING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Acts of Community Service CREATE GOODWILL WITH RENTERS
In order to build goodwill with renters and create the added benefit of community connection, which also ties renters to their neighbors and businesses, property owners can take the reins and work on community-related programs. It can come down to simple gestures that show you care. It all starts with creating a sense of place and developing an experience of your property versus focusing on the prop erty itself. “We all want a better future, and that starts with home, making an impact locally can change the lives of our neighbors, our families, and our community as a whole,” said Lisa Wise, CEO of Flock DC based in Washington, D.C. “When we give back, we’re building the community we want to be a part of.”
By Michelle Gamble
Outside of conventional customer service, how can prop erty owners and operators go that extra mile to not only re tain quality renters, but also engender that all-important loyalty? The kind of reliability that makes renters pay rent on time and love and care for your property as if it’s their own. The kind of devotion that creates a true connection and concern not only for your rental property, but also for the community at large.
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Wise illustrated her point by describing what her group has specifically done in their areas. “We’ve funded big, bold ideas like large-scale murals, veteran farmer supplies, funds for firefighters installing smoke detectors for seniors living east of the river, and bicycle repair stations,” she said. “We host an annual Casino Night fundraiser for a local non-prof it that provides healthcare services to the Latinx commu nity. The only limit is thinking that it’s not your place as a business leader to set the example. We say, get creative and self-elect yourself to make an impact.”
Start by investing in your renters’ experiences. Make it a priority to make a difference in the community and sharing it with your renters. “We believe that healthy homes lead to happy residents, and happy residents care deeply about their communities,” said Wise. “When we’re all aligned in that in vestment, it becomes a lot easier to build the long-term rela tionships we cultivate with so many of our residents.”
NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT
“We care deeply about residents, know many of them per sonally, and translate this care and knowledge into support and benefits residents most appreciate,” continued Goodsell. “We believe by being present, doing good work, and caring about their best interests, it allows us to build a trustworthy relationship. For example, during COVID, CEO Neveo Moss er hand-delivered toilet-paper rolls to elderly residents who couldn’t fend for themselves. The company also made hand sanitizer to distribute when there was none on the shelves. We believe in going the extra mile for residents.”
“We believe that healthy homes lead to happy residents, and happy residents care deeply about their communities...”
She continued and said, “We value supporting small, local businesses, doers, and makers. Engaging with the community around us is important, and we always welcome an opportu nity to promote organizations that need extra visibility and resources. We write a weekly newsletter and share volunteer activities, cultural events, activism opportunities, and our fa vorite happy hours. We also believe it’s important to educate our clients, and we’ll share information sessions about rent ers’ rights, panels on fair housing, and other events where res idents can learn about renting in the district.”
34 SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM
MOSSEROFCOURTESYPHOTOS
Mosser finds new ways to help its community each year. Among many phil anthropical efforts, Mosser has recently had the pleasure of supporting San Francisco’s Homeless Prenatal Program by providing safe, clean and stable housing to new and expecting mothers. Mosser also donated and made a commitment to Urban Alchemy, with whom they are now partnering to support safety in the broader community through better patrolling of the streets. With Mosser’s support, they will also help improve cleanliness and safety. Mosser preserves the rich history of the Tenderloin by supporting the Tenderloin Museum, so residents can be proud of this very special neighborhood.
“With the multicultural orientation of our employees and residents, we are mindful about acknowledging key heritage months,” said Goodsell. “For example, in February, as Black History Month ended and Women’s History Month began, we acknowledged the cultural diversity we have at Mosser.
Also, as diversity and inclusion have taken root as import ant concerns among community leaders, many property owners have taken measures to make it their top priorities.
Wise’s company shares a similar outlook with Mosser. “Our profits come from an industry that has historically ex cluded black and brown Americans from the wealth-gener ating opportunity of homeownership,” she said. “When we thought about how else to give back, we realized we wanted to change that narrative, to seed an equitable future that we would be proud to be a part of. Our latest philanthropic ini tiative, The birdSEED Foundation, awards down payment grants to first-time, BIPOC home-buyers. We’re currently active in DC and Philadelphia. Since late 2020, we’ve had 10 households close on their forever homes, with the help of birdSEED’s $5-15k no-strings grants. Is this the financial windfall that will repair the past? No. But it shifts the conversation and invites others in the real estate industry to consider their responsibility.”
The reward for all of these efforts shows when renters want to buy the homes they’ve rented. “Our favorite thing is when long-term renters end up loving their home so much that they end up buying the property,” added Wise. “When that happens, we really feel we’ve been successful in deliv ering stellar service and being a part of what makes those residents feel like a part of their community. Residents who stay in place longer and connect to the space they’re a part of tend to be better neighbors and more active in the commu nity around them.”
Pride Month are also heritage events we acknowledge and remind us of how lucky we are to serve the wonderful melting pot of all kinds of residents in Mosser communities in San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles. ”
Michelle Gamble is the editor of Rental Housing Magazine.
SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM 35
“As a multicultural family-owned business, we acknowledge the cultural heritage, adversities and triumphs that these kinds of celebratory months focus on – and that we honor ev ery single day,” she continued. “Unlike other real estate own er operators, Mosser is a 100-percent African American and woman-owned family business with more than 85 percent of our employees self-identifying as a minority. From this back ground, we do business with a profound commitment to di versity, equity and inclusion at the core of company culture. It sets Mosser apart in this business. Mosser apartments deliver clean, quality, secure affordable workforce housing in highly diverse neighborhoods for those who live there and offer new opportunities for those that want to relocate and/or operate a business “Juneteenththere.and
STOCKFIZKES/ADOBE
Tax Talk Tax Preparation
If you’re one of the lucky ones that can afford to farm it out – wonderful. If not, don’t be discouraged. An important tip and safety pre caution: always use a professional tax preparer and avoid doing it yourself. The IRS and California Franchise Tax Board are less likely to audit business owners who have used professional ser vices (although not common, the IRS does sometimes randomly pull taxes and audit them). Part of getting through any kind of audit without it becoming an agonizing experience is simple: be organized. Being organized also makes it much easier to close the books.
TAX FAQ
Easier
By Brea Harper
While it might seem like a moun tain of work and paperwork is ahead, simply start and break it down into slow, steady do-able chunks, which will make it seem less daunting. You won’t be able to close the books until the end of December, but you can get out ahead of it. As property owners you may or may not have a full-time bookkeeper. Small mom-and-pop property owners (five properties or less) are less likely to have a full-time bookkeeper and may even hire the entire property manage ment out to a management company.
So, if you have been organized all year long then end-of-year tax prepara tion won’t be difficult. The old fash ioned way to handle receipts is to store paper receipts, since in many cases you will receive paper ones. Digitalization of all receipts makes it easier. You can create a tax folder for the year on your computer and download digital invoices and receipts into separate files. Add to the folder all year long and don’t leave it to the last minute, as that will create a much bigger job. If you have paper receipts, scan them in. Word to
36 SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM I
Make Your End-of-Year
t’s the 4th quarter and you know what that means … end-of-theyear tax preparation. If you’re like a lot people, you probably aren’t looking forward to it. It’s yet an other “thing” you need to add to your to-do list. However, procrastination and an ardent dislike of taxes won’t make it go away. So, you can quit pro crastinating and instead be prepared, which will make the whole ordeal that much easier and over with faster.
Now if you haven’t been doing book keeping in advance, you can start at the beginning of the 4th quarter to be on top of everything by the time you close the books. Then when it’s time to finish, you have far less work to do.
If you’re paying quarterlies, make sure you pay all of them on time. Business expenses can fluctuate and perhaps your quarterly payments no longer reflect either the amount of money you’ve made or a decrease in profits. You can adjust your payments, but if you didn’t do it correctly and you owe, then you can be penalized. Property owners who have employ ees, need to ensure they have contrib uted to all of the retirement accounts, social security, etc. Make sure all expenses are tracked when it comes to healthcare contributions and insur ance plans. Put all of your expense records, including utility payments, office expenses, entertainment, and more, into Researchplace.andensure you know the proper percentages for deductions and how much office space (if you work from home) can be deducted. Home office space guidelines are strict. You can measure your home office and take the deduction that way (it’s the most accurate versus guessing). Un less you’ve moved, this deduction will remain the same from year to year.
Next year, you can begin doing month ly tracking, and then it will be even easier to close the books for 2023.
A surprising fact: your home office cannot be used by your family and still be considered professional office space. Don’t place anything other than business-related items in your space. Personal items including beds can nullify the deduction.
SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM 37
it will be easy to calculate their sala ries for their W-4s. You can get these prepared in advance. Non-salaried em ployees whose hours fluctuate will have to wait until after December 31st to be accurately reflected on the W-4 forms. You can prepare your profit and loss sheet in advance. Figure out your cate gories and begin filling in the amounts.
the wise, please backup your digital records onto an outside server. Google offers extra storage for $1.99 a month, and it’s the best digital insurance you will ever pay for peace of mind. Make sure you have a separate busi ness account for everything related to your property owner transactions. Avoid using personal accounts and intermingling funds. Even for transac tions like gas purchases, invest in a gas station credit card. Thus, when you go to figure out your expenses, you won’t be digging across multiple accounts and creating extra, unnecessary work.
If you have salaried employees, then
The best advice when it comes to advanced tax preparation: eat the elephant one piece at a time. In other words, procrastination only makes the job harder.
Brea Harper is a business owner and writer.
EBRHA SUPPLIER DIRECTORY
Crane Management Kit Crane | cranemanagment.net510.918.2306
AFFILIATIONS ALN Apartment Data alndata.com800.643.6416
Pacific Diversified Insurance Richard Callaway | rcallaway@pdins.com925.788.5558
Seville Property Management Maya Clark | sevillepropertymanagement.com510.244.1289
ATTORNEYS — LAND USE/ CONDO CONVERSION Richards Law John Richards | richards.legal.com925.231.8104
BANKING/LENDING First Foundation Bank Michelle Li | 510.250.8133 ff.inc.com Pacific Western Bank Kara Mooney | 301.272.6628 Story by J.P. Morgan Shane Nebbia | story.jpmorgan.com201.961.4022
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Lapham Company Jon M. Shahoian | laphamcompany.com510.594.7600 Maisel Property Management maiselpropertymanagement.com510.568.4444
The Law Offices of Alan J. Horwitz Alan J. Horwitz | alanhorwitzlaw.com510.839.2074 Law Offices of Brent Kernan Brent Kernan | bkernan@aol.com510.712.2900
INSURANCE Commercial Coverage Paul Tradelius | 415.436.9800 comcov.com Foxen Kellie Orewiler | 419.560.7909 foxen.com Kelly Lux — State Farm Insurance Kelly Lux | Kelly.lux.gjcg@statefarm.com510.521.1222
City of OaklandHousing and DevelopmentCommunity oaklandca.gov/rap510.788.0462
LEAD, MOLD & PEST MANAGEMENT Alameda County Healthy Homes Dept. aclppp.org510.567.8282
Suppliers
BUILDING SUPPLIES & REMODELING APT Maintenance Keith Berry | aptmaintenanceinc.com510.747.9713 CONSTRUCTION APT Maintenance Keith Berry | aptmaintenanceinc.com510.747.9713 Caldecott Construction, LLC caldecottconstruction.com510.990.6282 Precision Concrete Cutting pccnorcal.com650.867.8657 SGDM, LLC. Henry Mak | hmak@sgdmllc.com415.688.9869
38 SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM
Vision Property Management Frank Thomas | vpmpropertymanagement.com510.926.4104 MANAGEMENTPROPERTY SOFTWARE AppFolio John Hogg | 866.648.1536 Azibo 408.890.1094 | azibo.com Buildium, a RealPage Company Lauren Barry | 877.396.7876 Story by J.P. Morgan Shane Nebbia | 201.961.4022 Yardi Systems yardi.com800.866.1124
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE APT Maintenance Keith Berry | aptmaintenanceinc.com510.747.9713
ATTORNEYS — REAL ESTATE/CORP. Burnham Brown Charles Alfonzo | burnhambrown.com510.835.6825
The Enterprise Company William McLetchie | theenterpriseco.com510.444.0876 Kasa Operations Inc. Tania Kapoor Mirchandani tania@kasaproperties.com415.377.9452
The Shepherd Law Group Michael Shepherd | theshepherdlawgroup.com510.531.0129 Zacks, Freedman & Patterson, PC zfplaw.com415.956.8100
DOORS & GATES R & S Overhead Garage Door Sean Boatright | 510.483.9700, x14 rsdoors.com FINANCIAL PLANNING California Strategic Advisors Ron Kingston | 916.447.7229 First Republic Bank firstrepublic.com415.262.2440 Luther Burbank Savings Stephanie Penate | 310.616.0353 Wilkinson Wealth Management Steven Wilkinson | WilkinsonWealthManagement.com510.625.1400 Fremont Bank fremontbank.com510.305.0949
PFN Insurance Services pfninsurance.com510.483.6667 INTERCOMS & ACCESS CONTROLS R & S Overhead Garage Door Sean Boatright | 510.483.9700, x14 rsdoors.com LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT ShinePay Charles Aweida | 510.616.9210
APPRAISERS Watts, Cohn & Partners, Inc. Mark Watts | 415.777.2666 ASSOCIATIONS Hamilton Families Mayo Lunt | 415.321.2612 ATTORNEYS — EVICTIONS/ PROPERTY OWNER DEFENSE Bornstein Law Daniel Bornstein | 415.409.7611 bornstein.law Burnham Brown Charles Alfonzo | burnhambrown.com510.835.6825
Oakland Housing Authority Leased Housing | 510.874.1500 oakha.org Oakland RAP oaklandca.gov/rap StopWaste.Org 510.891.6558 HANDYMAN SERVICES Start to Finish 510.727.9128 INSPECTIONS Edrington & Associates Steve Edrington | edringtonandassociates.com510.749.4880
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Bay Property Group baypropertygroup.com510.836.0330 Beacon Properties Aaron Young | beaconbayarea.com510.428.1864
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS Adapt Dwellings, Inc. Chris Paizis | 510.319.9045 Housable Patrick Collins | 415.525.6873 housable.com ACCOUNTING & TAX Martin Friedrich, CPA besttaxcpa.com510.895.8310
Jack Schwartz, Attorney at Law Jack Schwartz | jwsjr1220@comcast.net650.863.5823
LITIGATION SUPPORT SERVICES Edrington & Associates Steve Edrington | edringtonandassociates.com510.749.4880
City Council has adopted an amendment to change the formula used to calculate the annual allowable rent increase to 60% of the change in CPI, or 3%, whichever is lower. From August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023, the new annual CPI rent increase is 3%.
City of Oakland Rent Adjustment Program
Questions?
Plaza
Dates: October 19, 2022, November 16, 2022, and December 14, 2022
*Announcements* Rent Adjustment Program Housing & Community Development 250
Oakland’s Emergency Moratorium continues to prohibit most evictions, rent increases beyond the CPI (including banking), and late fees on covered units until the City Council lifts the local emergency. Contact a Housing Counselor at 510 238 3721.
Oakland's Emergency Moratorium
CPI Announcement Update
Time: 5:30PM 7PM On June 21, 2022, the Oakland City Council approved the establishment of a rent registry in Oakland. As of March 1, 2023, owners of residential rental units subject to the Rent Adjustment Program (RAP) Fee will be required to submit rent and tenancy information on an annual basis. For information about registering for these upcoming workshops, join our listserv at tinyurl.com/RAPsignup. We will notify our listserv when workshop registration begins. Frank H. Ogawa Suite 5313 Oakland, CA rap@oaklandca.govoaklandca.gov/RAP94612(510)238-3721
Rent Registry Workshops
40 JULY+AUGUST 2022 / EBRHA.COM STOCKBUSINESS/ADOBEMONKEY supplier directory REAL BROKERSESTATE&AGENTS CBRE Keith Manson | 510.874.1919 cbre.com Coldwell Banker Commercial Henry Ohlmeyer | coldwellbanker.com925.831.3390 Edrington & Associates Steve Edrington | edringtonandassociates.com510.749.4880 Kite Hill Real Estate Jatin Mehta | teamkitehill.com949.929.9562 Lapham Company Tsegab Assefa | laphamcompany.com510.594.0643 Litton / Fuller Group littonfullergroup.com510.693.5444 NAI Northern California Grant Chappell | 510.336.4721 nainorcal.com Owens Real Estate Deeana Owens | owensrealestate.com510.225.5810 Pacific Coast Real Estate pacificcoastre.com510.915.9721 The Pinza Group Steven Pinza | pinzagroup.com510.725.4775 The Prescott Company David Weglarz | theprescottcompany.com510.398.1027 Walker & Dunlop walkerdunlop.com415.233.3945 RENTAL SERVICES ReLISTO Eric Baird | clicks.weblinkinternational.com415-237-1819 Specialized Real Estate sresproperties.com510.225.9224 ROOFERS Fidelity Roof Company Doug Kellor | fidelityroof.com510.547.6330 Frank Fiala Roofing Frank Fiala | ffialaroofing.com510.582.6929 General Roofing Company Michael Wakerling | 510.536.3356 generalroof.com SEISMIC ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION Quake ManufacturingBrace Company quakebracing.com510.495.1575 SGDM, LLC. Henry Mak | hmak@sgdmllc.com415.688.9869 West Coast Premier Construction, Inc. Homy Sikaroudi | 510.271.0950 wcpc.inc.com TENANT SCREENING SERVICE InformationContemporaryCorp. (CIC) Dan Firestone | 88.232.3822 continfo.com Intellirent Cassandra Joachim | 415.849.4400 myintellirent.com WASTE & MAINTENANCERECYCLING Bay Area Bin Support Nancy Fiame | bayareabinsupport.com888.920.BINS Trash Scouts trashscouts.com510.788.0462 WASTE MANAGEMENT Sewer Master sewerninja.com510.599.3691 Waste Management of Alameda County 510.430.8509
SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM 41 (510) 271-0950 Homy Sikaroudi PhD, PE www.wcpc inc.com West Coast Premier Construction GENERAL & SEISMIC RETROFIT CONTRACTORS GUARANTEED APPROVAL OF SOFT STORY APARTMENT BUILDING SEISMIC ORDINANCE IN OAKLAND, ALAMEDA, SAN FRANCISCO & BERKELEY DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION ALL UNDER ONE COMPANY! 22+ YEARS EXPERIENCE | OVER 500 SEISMIC RETROFITS COMPLETED LICENSE #B797467 Quality Residential and Commercial Roofing General Roofing Company tailors their customer's experience to meet their specific needs. Composition Shingles Flat Roof Systems Single-ply Tile & Slate Specialists Fire treated Wood Roof Systems ALL Types of Roofing: Repair & Maintenance ALL Roof Types Preventative Maintenance Programs 510-536-3356 GeneralRoof.com3309 Elmwood Avenue Oakland, CA 94601 Roofing Accessories Skylights Ventilation Systems Gutter Installation General Roofing Co. has proudly provided residential and commercial roofing services in the Greater Bay Area for over 80 years. Our consistent quality workmanship and customer satisfaction has earned us the Diamond Certified designation Fully bonded and insured C-39 contractor license # 154732
Refuse to make reasonable repairs – renters have the right to live in a habitable property, which means you can not refuse to make certain repairs to things such as plumb ing, HVAC, building code violations, hazards, or things a renter can’t do themselves.
Withhold security deposits for things like the usual wear and tear. Change the locks – this could be construed as an illegal eviction. Use the renter’s space for personal items – you can’t store items in the garage, etc. The whole leased space must not be used for anything personal.
Increase rent without notice – you can’t just increase the rent without following the regional laws in regards to rent increases. You have to follow the prescribed regula tions when it comes to rental increases in your area.
Turn off utilities – it doesn’t matter if the renter hasn’t paid rent, you cannot shut down their utilities.
You cannot ban service animals – even if you don’t want pets, when it comes to support animals (dogs and cats included), there is nothing you can do to stop it when the renter has a doctor’s note.
D
Evict a resident without prior notice – property owners cannot do what is called a “self-help” eviction and get rid of a renter. Even if a renter hasn’t paid rent, you still have to go through the proper legal channels.
STOCKGMSTOCKSTUDIO/ADOBE
rop in on your renters unannounced – maybe you want to do an arbitrary inspection or just check in to see what’s going on with your prop erty … you cannot do so under the law called the “covenant of quiet enjoyment.” Should the urge arise, do not do it. Do not enter the property unannounced – it’s yet an other law that you cannot violate, which is understandable. You can’t just walk into your renter’s home unannounced. That is a major violation of privacy among other things.
10 THINGS A PROPERTY OWNER CANNOT DO
Last Look
SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2022 / EBRHA.COM 43 City of Freemont Inside Front Cover REAL ESTATE BROKERS & AGENTS Pinza Group p. 1 EBRHA 360 p. 5 EBRHA Town Hall Series p. 9 Home Depot And BEHR® Paints p. 11 TENANT SCREENING SERVICE Intellirent p. 13 Perpetual Homes p. 19 REAL ESTATE BROKERS & AGENTS Owens Real Estate p. 37 BANKING/LENDING Story by J.P. Morgan p. 37 RENT ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM Oakland RAP p. 39 ROOFERS General Roofing Company p. 41 SEISMIC ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION West Coast Premier Construction, Inc.. p. 41 Quake Brace Mfg. Co. p. 43 (this page) INSURANCE Pacific Diversified Insurance Services p. 43 (this page) WASTE MANAGEMENT Bay Area Bin Support Back Cover ad index PRODUCTS & SERVICES Acceptance of an advertisement by this magazine does not necessarily constitute any endorsement or recommendation by EBRHA, express or implied, of the advertiser or any goods or services offered. Multi-Family Commercial Property General Liability rcallaway@pdins.com925.788.5558hosprop.com Planned insurance programs since 1906 LICENSE# 0K07568 Activate Your Voice EBRHA ON YOUR SIDE Have you experienced a situation or ruling that you feel infringed on due process as a property owner? We constantly hear about outcomes that are just plain wrong. EBRHA collects member experiences in order to make changes to a broken and biased system. Tell us your story today at ebrha.com GRAND JURY COMPLAINTS This investigative body looks at complaints received from citizens alleging mistreatment by officials, suspicion of misconduct, or government inefficiencies. To file a complaint, send an email to: ATTORNEYgrandjury@acgov.orgCOMPLAINTS
Office of Chief Trial Counsel reviews complaints of unethical conduct by attorneys licensed to practice in California (this includes Rent Board hearing officers and tenant attorneys engaged in suspicious misconduct). To file a complaint, go to calbar.ca.gov, find the “Quick Links” on the left side, and then click on “Attorney Complaints” and complete the application. Q uake B race M fg . c o . EarthquakeSoft-StoryHazards? State earmarks $250 million in aid for soft story earthquake retrofits! Our bracing systems cost less, ship sooner, need less space, install faster, and protect better than competing bracing methods. For a FREE 30-MINUTE PHONE CONSULTATION, email your phone number and building address to: info@ quakebracing.com quakebracing.com
The
INTRODUCING NEW EBRHA MEMBERSHIP LEVELS EBRHA is thrilled to present new membership levels tailored to your specific needs! • Standard: Tier 1 (Small-Medium Owners/Managers, 1-20 Units) • Advanced: Tier 2 (Medium Owners/Managers, 21-50 Units & Suppliers) • Enterprise Pro: Tier 3 (Large Properties/Owners/Managers, 51+ Units) • NEW! EBRHA Affiliate Subscription Get introduced to rental ownership/management,propertyorsimply stay abreast with the industry. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE, LOCAL ADVOCACY, LOCAL SUPPORT, WHEN YOU NEED IT. 3664 GRAND AVENUE • SUITE B • OAKLAND, CA 94610 MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS • Property management advice by phone or in person • Renter screening (application/reportservicefeesapply) • Annually updated legal forms, including forms online 24/7 • Monthly workshops on new laws, rental agreements, security deposits, legal notices, fair housing, rent control and more • Vendor directory of local businesses that offer exclusive member discounts • Annual Trade Expo and monthly networking mixers • Monthly educational membership meetings • Community outreach and education • Local and state lobbying • An active and growing Legal Action Fund and Political Action Committee • Subscription to Rental Housing and Units • Membership with the National Apartment Association and CalRHA EAST BAY RENTAL HOUSING ASSOCIATION (EBRHA) is a nonprofit trade organization representing owners and managers of apartments, condominiums, duplexes, single-family homes and other types of rental housing. EBRHA members range in size from small investors with just one property to large property management companies that own or manage hundreds of units. Our membership consists of more than 1,500 rental housing owners, property managers, attorneys and other service contractors. Altogether, EBRHA represents over 43,000 rental units and serves over 25 cities throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
7. Are you unsure who’s defending your business interests? 8. Are you concerned about the health of your rental housing business in 2022? Livermore PleasantonHaywardUnionNewarkFremontCity Castro Valley San Leandro OaklandBerkeleyAlameda Livermore PleasantonHaywardUnionNewarkFremontCity Castro Valley San Leandro OaklandBerkeleyAlameda DID YOU KNOW? EBRHA SERVES ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES WHY NOT JOIN EBRHA?
ü Helps you navigate complex housing laws to ensure you’re on the right path.
6.
ü Educates members and the community on rental housing best practices.
2. Are there unit vacancies you need to fill right now? Is it difficult to constantly navigate all the housing legislative changes? Are you worried about the protection of your property rights? Do you have at-risk renters who have been paying rent reliably this year? Have any of your renters not paid rent OR are they paying reduced rent?
3.
1. Has managing rental property challengerelationshipsexpectations/beenainrecentmonths?
5.
WHY SHOULD YOU RENEW YOUR EBRHA MEMBERSHIP?
EBRHA IS RIGHT BY YOUR SIDE. RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP ONLINE AT EBRHA.COM -> MEMBER PORTAL OR CONTACT MEMBERSHIP@EBRHA.COM
ü Bridges the gap between housing providers and policymakers.
ü Advocates as a community for property owner rights. ü Offers on-call support and monthly events to help you succeed, one step at a time. If you answered “YES” to any of the questions above, then EBRHA is a partner you can’t afford to be without. Membership provides these benefits:
ü Helps you keep long-term residents happy and safe through uncertain times.
ü Provides the latest forms and information for legal compliance and risk mitigation.
4.
ASK YOURSELF:
ü Stays on top of relief resources and programs to help your business remain viable.
ü Amplifies your voice and stories when it matters the most.
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