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.
Rental Housing Industry Continues to Support Newcomers
By Greg Brown | | Updated
In 2022, the National Apartment Association (NAA) joined an effort by the federal government and national nonprofits like Catholic World Services and others to help in the resettlement of refugees from Afghanistan. The need was great as thousands fled that country following the United States…
SCOTUS Declines to Hear All New York Rent Control Cases
By Ayiesha Beverly | | Updated
On February 20, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) denied petitions for writs of certiorari in 74 Pinehurst LLC, et al. v. New York and 335-7 LLC, et al. v. New York. In a statement written by Justice Thomas respecting the Court’s denials, he noted "[t]he petitioners’ complaints…
Senate Bill Introduced to End Federal CARES Act Notice to Vacate
| Updated
On February 7, 2024, Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) introduced S. 3755, the Respect State Housing Laws Act, in the U.S. Senate. The legislation would end the CARES Act’s federal notice to vacate requirement for federally-backed and federally-assisted housing, a…
NAA Leads Industry Response on Pre-Eviction Notice Rulemaking
By Joe Riter | | Updated
Over the past month, the National Apartment Association (NAA) led the real estate industry’s response to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) notice of proposed rulemaking that would require public housing agencies (PHAs) and owners of properties receiving project-based…
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…