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.

NAA Responds to Resident Screening RFI

By Joe Riter | June, 2023 | Updated June, 2023

On May 30, 2023, the National Apartment Association (NAA) and the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) submitted a joint comment letter in response to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)’s request for information, which was released on February…

FHFA Asks About Rent Control

By Ben Harrold | June, 2023 | Updated June, 2023

On May 30, 2023, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) released a Request for Input (RFI) on tenant protections for enterprise-backed multifamily properties. Responses are due July 31 and will likely inform future rulemaking applicable to federally-backed properties through Fannie Mae and…

Bipartisan Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Act Reintroduced

By Jason Lynn | May, 2023 | Updated May, 2023

At long last, bipartisan legislation to reduce barriers to housing development has been reintroduced in both chambers of Congress. The Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Act (S. 1688 and H.R. 3507) would shed light on discriminatory land use policies, encourage localities to cut burdensome regulations and…

Colorado Senate Passes ‘Affordable Housing Right of First Refusal’

By Joe Riter | May, 2023 | Updated May, 2023

In the final day of Colorado’s 2023 legislative session, the state Senate passed HB23-1190, Affordable Housing Right of First Refusal, which was previously passed by the Colorado House in March. The final act was sent to Governor Polis for further action on May 17.  HB23-1190 provides local…

Freddie Mac Releases Survey of Landlord Tenant Acts

By Emma Craig | May, 2023 | Updated May, 2023

As part of their commitments to the White House Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights, Freddie Mac released its National Survey of Tenant Protections Under State Landlord Tenant Acts (the Survey) that detailed 18 different topics and trends in renter protections across states. The Survey details…

Senate Banking Committee Considering Proposals to Address Housing Challenges

By Maria Spencer | May, 2023 | Updated May, 2023

On April 26, 2023, the U.S. Senate Banking Committee held a hearing entitled “Building Consensus to Address Housing Challenges,” providing an opportunity for the rental housing industry to collaborate with lawmakers to address key housing issues. Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Ranking Member…

White House Blueprint: May 2023 Update

By Joe Riter and Ben Harrold | May, 2023 | Updated May, 2023

The National Apartment Association (NAA) has been working diligently in its response to the White House’s Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights by asserting industry perspective. Here are a few updates on our recent activities:  Resident Screening: NAA issued a call to action for screening…

Another Industry Win Against Rent Control

By Ben Harrold | May, 2023 | Updated May, 2023

Montana has become the latest state to preempt rent control after Governor Schweitzer signed SB 105 into law on May 1, 2023. This legislation prohibits local governments from exercising “any power to control the amount of rent charged for private residential or commercial property.” This does not…

NAA Supports Challenge to Clearly Define ‘Rent’ in Maryland

By Brittany Wood and Ayiesha Beverly | May, 2023 | Updated May, 2023

The National Apartment Association (NAA), along with the Maryland Multi-Housing Association (MMHA) and the Apartment & Office Building Association (AOBA) have filed a brief as Amici Curiae in support of Westminster Management urging the Supreme Court of Maryland to agree to hear an appeal in a…

Maryland County Passes 'Landlord Retaliation' Ordinance

By Ben Harrold | April, 2023 | Updated April, 2023

On March 2, 2023, Prince George’s County, Maryland adopted a three percent cap on rent increases. The legislation is set to expire in one year and provides exemptions for affordable housing units that receive government funding and those that received their initial use and occupancy permits within…