habitability standard – Renters Alliance

TCM Fest O’Pests Reminds Us: Close Those Gaps!

September 6, 2019September 6, 2019 Mark Elliot DIY, habitability standard, Infestation, Pests

Turner Classic Movies today screened a few entomological-themed films that are guaranteed to make the insect-phobic squirm. Them (1954) and

Explainer

Interior Habitability: Weak Standard, Few Violations

February 16, 2019June 23, 2019 Mark Elliot Community Preservation, habitability standard

Is your landlord not keeping up with interior interior maintenance? You are not alone: many longtime tenants in our older buildings can’t get attention from the landlord even as vacant units get the gloss. For good reason: the landlord is not obligated to do much to keep the apartment in the condition it was rented. That’s why Beverly Hills needs a habitability standard!

Explainer

Tip: Avoid the Carpet Cleaning Bait-and-Switch

August 15, 2018June 9, 2019 Mark Elliot carpet cleaning, habitability standard

Longtime tenants know this story: worn carpets long past their prime get to looking downright threadbare. As pleas for renewal find no sympathy from the landlord, the tenant’s fingers do the walkin’ looking for a cheap carpet cleaner. There are none! There are only cheap quoted prices. Once the job is underway the price changes. Here’s what to expect!

Explainer

Terms Explained: Habitable vs. Tenantable

January 2, 2018June 22, 2019 Mark Elliot habitability standard

Tenants are often surprised to learn that a landlord need not repaint on a schedule or replace worn carpet. He need not repair sinks that drain slowly or improve low-amp electrical service. That’s because state law requires nothing more of the landlord. Tenants deserve a higher bar. We need a local habitability standard!

Commentary

When Landlords Put Profit Before Maintenance

December 19, 2017June 9, 2019 Mark Elliot 200 S Reeves, habitability standard, maintenance, Reeves Drive, Stephen Copen

Beverly Hills residents take well-kept properties for granted. High-and-rising values generate resources for maintenance and, in turn, maintenance keeps property values up. But maintenance is not part of the business model for some owners of residential rental property. Instead their priority is cash flow. But scrimping on maintenance not only affects tenants; it also augurs an overall decline in the city’s rental housing stock. Let’s take an example!

Process

2017 Dialogue #5: Registry, Habitability and More

August 4, 2017June 22, 2019 Mark Elliot Dialogues 2017, habitability standard, recap, tenant-landlord committee

City of Beverly Hills in the spring tossed further consideration of the rent stabilization policy to the community to hug-it-out over the key policy details. The four facilitated dialogues that followed identified key issues. This dialog #5 drilled down to tenant-landlord communication; a new habitability standard for individual units; and the maximum allowed annual rent increase. This is our recap.