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.
SCOTUS Denies Rent Control Cases
By Mark Russell | | Updated
Update (11/14/2024)
On November 12, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) denied petitions for certiorari in two cases challenging New York City’s Rent Control regime under the Takings Clause of the US Constitution: G-Max Management, Inc, et al., v. State of New York and Building…
SCOTUS Rules in Favor of Calif. Property Owner in Takings Case
By Ayiesha Beverly | | Updated
On April 12, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a ruling in Sheetz v. County of El Dorado, California, a land use takings case answering the question “whether a permit exaction is exempt from the unconstitutional conditions doctrine as applied in Nollan and Dolan simply…
Maryland Supreme Court Defines ‘Rent’
By Brittany Wood and Crystal Richardson | | Updated
In a long-awaited opinion, filed on March 25, 2024, the Supreme Court of Maryland ruled that the definition of rent in a residential lease means the “fixed, periodic payments a tenant owes for use or occupancy of a rented premises” within the context of Maryland’s summary ejectment statute (MD Real…
States, Localities Ponder Just Cause Eviction
By Joe Riter | | Updated
Across the country, just cause eviction (JCE) legislation continues to gain steam. The National Apartment Association (NAA) is tracking 10 JCE bills at the state level that were filed in 2024, with Montpelier, Vt. recently voting to adopt a local JCE proposal. This represents another approach by…
Accessory Dwelling Unit Laws on the Rise
By Emma Craig | | Updated
What We're Seeing
To combat the nation’s housing shortage, states are turning to zoning regulations to increase the minimum density of residential areas. Also known as granny flats or mother-in-law suites, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are separate dwellings paired with a single-family home.…
New Proposed Rule on Criminal Screening in HUD-Assisted Properties
By Joe Riter | | Updated
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released its notice of proposed rulemaking, Reducing Barriers to HUD-Assisted Housing, in the Federal Register. The proposed rule is intended to put clearer guardrails around housing providers’ criminal record screening policies and…
HUD Limits Income Eligibility for Affordable Housing
By Ben Harrold | | Updated
On April 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) changed how renter households’ income limits are calculated to be eligible for Section 8 and other federally assisted housing programs, including housing financed by the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC).
The…
NAA’s March Advocacy & Legal Webinar Provides Key Updates
By Emily Howard | | Updated
On March 20, 2024, the National Apartment Association (NAA) hosted the latest installment of its Advocacy and Legal Webinar (ALW) series. Some key takeaways include:
Legal Update: Mark Russell, Jr., NAA’s Staff Attorney, highlighted the latest legal news from across the country including two New…
Housing Featured Prominently in State of the Union
By Nicole Upano | | Updated
For the first time in a generation, housing was a prominent feature in the Presidential State of the Union address. Importantly, President Biden called upon Congress to pass his plan to build and rehabilitate 2 million rental homes and bring renters’ housing costs down.
Just before the State of…
State, Local Rent Control Approaches See Friction
By Ben Harrold | | Updated
Berkeley
Berkeley, California, has become a battleground for opposing ballot initiatives on rent control that will be decided this November.
On one hand, the Renters Relief and Homeowners Protection Act would dedicate Berkeley’s current 2.9 percent tax on property owners with more than four units…