Apartment Advocate

NAA Government Affairs’ bi-monthly publication combines all aspects of apartment industry advocacy into one go-to resource. The Apartment Advocate highlights key developments and viewpoints in industry public policy at all levels of government, and helps NAA members explore advocacy pathways.

States and Cities Divided Over Section 8 Mandates

By Ben Harrold | | Updated

As predicted in our outlook for 2024, source of income laws are once again the topic of debate in state legislatures and city councils. These policies require housing providers to accept Section 8 housing choice vouchers by adding “source of income” as a protected class in fair housing laws.…

NAA Political Affairs Update - February 2024

By NAA Political Affairs | | Updated

Housing Affordability Program: Victory in Maryland The passage of rent control legislation in neighboring counties spurred advocates in Howard County, Maryland to introduce bills to implement rent control (CB 44-2023) and expand the right of first refusal (CB 43-2023). The legislation, introduced…

Court Rules Against Los Angeles County Eviction Notice Requirement

By Ayiesha Beverly | | Updated

Background On April 11, 2023, the California Apartment Association (CAA) filed a lawsuit against the County of Los Angeles challenging their “Covid-19 Tenant Protections Resolution” (the Resolution). Specifically, CAA challenged the Resolution’s provision that requires housing providers in the…

Invitation Homes to Pay for Unlawful Rent Increases

By Ayiesha Beverly | | Updated

On January 8, 2024, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a $3.7 million settlement with Invitation Homes - the nation’s largest owner of single-family rental homes - to “resolve allegations that the company violated the California Tenant Protection Act (TPA) and California’s price-…

Supreme Court Declines to Review Seattle’s Screening Ban

By Chrystal Richardson | | Updated

Background In 2018, several housing providers and a rental housing trade association sued the City of Seattle, challenging the city’s Fair Chance Housing Ordinance (the Ordinance). The federal lawsuit, Yim v. City of Seattle, alleged that the Ordinance violated the housing providers’ federal…

Source of Income Laws on the Rise

By Ben Harrold | | Updated

What we’re seeing  A trend in cities and states across the country is on the rise: Lawmakers are trying to mandate that private rental housing providers participate in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. The laws are often framed as combatting discrimination by adding source…

Act Now: Proposed Rules on ‘Junk Fees,’ 30-Day Notice

By Joe Riter | | Updated

As the White House Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights reaches its first anniversary, the National Apartment Association (NAA) remains hard at work responding to the regulatory actions that have been issued in its wake and we need your help!   Most urgently, there are two proposed…

Congress Avoids Shutdown, Unveils Bipartisan Tax Package

By Greg Brown and Maria Spencer | | Updated

On January 18, 2024, the U.S. House and Senate passed a temporary extension of government funding until March to avoid a government shutdown. Additionally, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) unveiled a compromise tax…

New Reporting Requirement for Business Owners

By Joe Riter | | Updated

On January 1, 2024, the FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Reporting rule took effect and the agency’s filing portal went live. The BOI reporting rule will require nearly every business entity operating in the United States—including many in the rental housing industry—to register and…

HUD, PHA Officials Overview Inspections Changes

| Updated

The rollout of the U.S. Department and Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) new inspection standards came in waves throughout 2023. The National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) replaces previous inspection requirements, including the Housing Quality Standards or…