Oppose AB 828: the Unfair Attempt to Reduce Rents by 25% in CA

[Lawrence Leung]

I wish this post was under better circumstances, but I hope everyone, and your family and friends are staying safe and healthy.

Phil Ting a California Assemblyman just introduced a new legislative bill in light of Covid-19 that would force every property owner to reduce their rent by 25% and subsidize the rent of their tenants.

AB 828 by Assemblyman Phil Ting ignores the robust rent and eviction controls already in place across California. It provides no assurances that landlords can collect rent, remove problem tenants, or get a fair hearing in the court system. You can read more about California Apartment Assocaition's letter opposing AB 828 here.

If you own a rental property in California we NEED your help to defeat this bill. Visit CAA's Action Center to send a letter to your legislator urging them oppose AB 828.

This bill denies equal justice to property owners by:

1) Forcing landlords to reduce rents by 25% even if a tenant cannot demonstrate a hardship or need.

2) Allowing judges and the court system to set rents and change the rental agreements already in place.

3) Assuming every tenant is facing a hardship related to COVID-19 and must be compensated for this hardship.

4) Protecting nuisance tenants as it does not require tenants to answer an unlawful detainer complaint.

5) Mandating that rental property owners demonstrate an economic hardship to collect the contracted rent.

AB 828 is an unfair attempt to allow the government and the courts to give reduced rent and extended tenancies to all renters even if they do not face economic hardships, and it provides no safeguards or protections for landlords.