Every new year poses an extreme challenge for both tenants and landlords alike due to the new tenant laws that are proposed. It can be hard to keep up with these sometimes, which might often lead to major confusion or even worse— eviction.
If you are wondering what new tenant laws and protections popped up in 2022 for those living in California, then look no further. This article will highlight a few of the most important tenant laws to know in 2022.
This bill made changes to California law that requires a tenant or landlord to secure rental assistance before a court eviction is assigned to a tenant for nonpayment. This protects individuals who were evicted before they could even apply for rental assistance.
The law applies to renters, in which landlords must serve a “pay or quit” notice between October 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, concerning their overdue rent. The landlord must give tenants a minimum of three business days before they can file for a client to be evicted.
The notice can be sent for unpaid rent only if it was due between March 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021.
To learn more, or to fill out an application, please visit here (Bay Area residents only).
SB-91, otherwise known as the California Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), the State of California provides up to $2.6 billion in emergency funds. These funds are to be used as rental assistance for California residents and landlords who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Residents may be protected from getting evicted for up to 6 months if they are eligible for ERAP. Tenants cannot be evicted from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, for non-payment if they’re waiting on relief from an approved ERAP application. In the event of a denied application, landlords are required to show proof of the denied application to proceed in court.
To be eligible, tenants must have seen a reduced income of about 80% of AMI due to COVID-19 and seen a risk of homelessness.
AB 491 states that mixed-income multifamily properties must ensure that occupants have equal access to common entrances, areas, and amenities as the occupants of market-rate units. This is effective as of January 1, 2022, and only applies to mixed-income multifamily properties.
Additionally, this restricts mixed-income multifamily properties from gerrymandering affordable housing units to certain floors or areas as a way to separate the two units.
As of 2022, all California jurisdictions must provide waste collection services for organic waste. For some ideas on what constitutes organic waste, here are some of the most common items:
- Lumber
- Wood
- Paper
- Food
- Green material
- Sludge
- Manure
- Organic textiles
And much else, mostly natural items. Check with your local government to find out what else can be considered organic waste.
As a tenant, it is important to keep up with new tenant laws to ensure renter protection and prevent you from getting evicted. There are new California tenant protection laws made every year, and these are just a few of the 2022 ones.
To learn more, we invite you to check out our blog here at Estavillo Law Group. In addition, if you need help with an eviction or foreclosure case, we are the right ones to contact. With over 50 years of experience in the field, we are sure to have the right information for you at a fraction of the price you would spend elsewhere.