California is addressing the inflationary impact of security deposits. AB 12 (2023 | CA) will limit security deposits to one month’s rent. If signed by the Governor, California will be the 12th state to pass a cap on security deposits. For the curious, AB 12 exempts small landlords with 2 properties and less than 4 units.
Private Property. Security Cameras + Privacy + STRs
Does your state allow cameras to secretly record inside short term rentals? Deep down in the South, Georgia has a law that prevents recording people on private property without their knowledge, except to for security purposes. That makes short term rental security cameras complicated. A poll says that 6 in 10 are worried about being recorded in their short term rentals.
So what’s the fix? Turns out that some short term rental company contracts require disclosure of cameras or prevent recording short term rental guests.
new report: identified office buildings for residential conversion
“Converting Brown Offices to Green Apartments,” is a working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research, researchers at New York University and Columbia University that identified thousands of properties nationwide as physically suitable to be converted into apartments. It identifies 50+ buildings in Dallas – Fort Worth for conversion to residential properties. The report also lists local regulatory needs to make it happen, including: local zoning regulations amendments, building code adjustments, local property tax abatements and debt subsidies.
new property disclosure: floods
4 states are requiring home sellers & landlords to disclose whether a property has flooded. New York, New Jersey, South Carolina and North Carolina are requiring flood disclosures. The Natural Resources Defense Council stresses that Louisiana and Texas have very strong disclosure laws concerning flood risk. And, tenants in Indiana, Georgia, Texas, New Jersey, Oklahoma, California and Oregon are required to receive information concerning flooding risk disclosures.
NPR | Residents of four states will get more information about flood risk to their homes
research on homeless stipends
A study of the homeless in Canada who received stipends found that the unhoused spent the stipends on housing and transportation. There was NO increase in spending on “temptation goods.” As an added bonus, governmental entities spent less on shelter costs for the homeless. @washingtonpost
hoa legislation in north carolina
Let’s thank reddit for legislative game plans to reign in home owner associations (HOAs). A reddit thread discusses how to change the law so that HOAs cannot prevent a landowner from adopting an environmentally friendly landscaping style. Other legislative propositions included limiting HOA reach to only the lands owned by the HOA. Hummm… so a land owner would control the autonomy of their own land?????
anatomy of a state park investment in Texas
How did Environment Texas successfully pass legislation to add $1 billion to state parks? (1) Data. Texas is 35th in per capita state park acreage. That’s less than Florida. (2) personalized the data with anecdotes from Texans (3) bipartisan support (4) Harris County delegation support (5) bringing legislative experts into the team (6) press and (7) public engagement.
Environment Texas | How we got the Texas Legislature to invest $1 billion in state parks
“home insurance crisis” in California
Citing wildfires, construction costs, and other matters, some say home insurance carriers are leaving the California market. Most recently, AmGUARD Insurance, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies and Falls Lake have ceased offering home insurance policies in California.
Times of San Diego | Opinion: California Legislature Avoiding Growing Home Fire Insurance Crisis
Boston’s incentives to convert office buildings into residences
Boston is offering incentives to convert office buildings into residences. The incentives include waiving up to 75% of property taxes for up to 29 years. Philadelphia has had property tax incentives for converting buildings into residences for decades and the incentives are credited for revitalizing parts of City Center.
Governing | Cities Explore Ways to Promote Office-to-Housing Conversions
faith based housing solutions
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the 5th largest landowner in the U.S. the Catholic Diocese owns land in almost every county in the country. This sparked a law in Minnesota that preempts local zoning laws and allows faith-based organizations to build shelters for homeless individuals on their property. Atlanta did the same with its Faith-based Development Initiative where 10% of new affordable housing was built by faith based organizations.
Route Fifty | Governments have faith that church property can help solve the housing crisis