ALERT: OPPOSE Hiding Eviction Reports / Unlawful Detainer in Tenant Screening (AB 2819)

rental property housing legislation

ALERT: OPPOSE Hiding Eviction Reports / Unlawful Detainer in Tenant Screening (AB 2819)

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UPDATE AUGUST 18, 2016: This bill has made it to the governor’s desk, and is likely to be passed.

Under California’s unlawful detainer (UD) “masking” law,” UD court filings are masked, or hidden from public view for 60 days following the initial eviction court filing, and then are automatically unmasked. AB 2819 will permanently mask all UD actions, unless the rental property owner prevails in court, or seeks a default judgment in court. AB 2819 unfairly places the cost, burden, and responsibility for ensuring tenant defaults are made public on the backs of rental property owners.

Among the reasons to oppose:

  • Proponents are egregiously misrepresenting the bill. Proponents are publicly arguing that UD actions are the only lawsuits that become public before judgment is reached. This statement wholly misrepresents the law. CA Civil Code 1785.13 specifically allows all lawsuits and judgments to be reported on consumer credit reports unless they are more than seven years old or the statute of limitations has expired. That means if this bill passes, the reverse will be true: UD actions will be the only type of lawsuits that must remain masked until a judgment is reached.
  • AB 2819 will unfairly keep a majority of all UD actions hidden from public view. Most property owners who get possession of their properties before a UD proceeding concludes will not go back to court for a default judgment. Nor should they have to. They have already lost months of rent, which they will never recover, and have paid exorbitant court and attorney fees to file the UD action. They should not have to expend more time and energy, and pay additional attorney and court costs for a default judgment just to ensure the record is made public. Because default judgments will not be sought, thousands of rent default records will remain hidden from public view. As a result, landlords will not be able to fully assess prospective tenants’ ability to pay. The bill unfairly serves to blindfold landlords during the application process. Legislation should instead focus on making it easier for tenants to correct their records if any mistakes occur.
  • Like credit defaults, bankruptcies, mortgage defaults, and other debt obligations, non-payment of rent is a civil matter of public record and concern. Whether it’s a mortgage, credit, loan, or other extension of goods or property based on trust, credit and default histories are paramount to any decision to lend, loan or provide. That is why non-payment defaults are always made public immediately upon a default filing without the need for a legal judgment. Non-payment of rent should be treated no different. Tenant defaults are a matter of public concern and relied upon by all rental property owners at the time of evaluating prospective tenants. Eviction records must be made public to ensure rental property owners are fully apprised of a tenants’ rental history.
  • AB 2819 is contrary to California’s open records and public access policies. When California’s masking law first went into effect in 1991, this legislature stated, “it is the policy of the State of California to promote open access to public records. It is in the interest of the public to assure, to the greatest extent possible, that there is open public access to court records, including civil case files. (See SB 892, statutes of 1991, Legislative Counsel Digest.)

Please vote NO!

The following apartment associations are OPPOSED to AB 2819 (Chiu) and request your NO” VOTE:

Apartment Association of Orange County
East Bay Rental Housing Association
North Valley Property Owners Association
Apartment Association, California Southern Cities

 

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6 Replies to “ALERT: OPPOSE Hiding Eviction Reports / Unlawful Detainer in Tenant Screening (AB 2819)”

  1. Approximately 95% of unlawful detainers filed are for non-payment of rent. By hiding this information, the next rental owner will not have access to valuable rental history.
    Tenant advocates argue that an owner need only call the current landlord for rental history. This sounds logical in a perfect world. However, in the real world this process is flawed. 1) It’s difficult to verify that the person you are contacting is actually the landlord. (it could be their cousin) 2) An owner who is desperate to regain possession of their property may not be forthcoming of all the facts knowing it would delay the tenant’s move.
    With technology today, most any document (bank statements, paycheck stubs, etc) can be altered. The credit report is the best tool we have to determine credit worthiness.

  2. I would like to both know so please tell me how to do that as I see no possibility here. I am a landowner rental property owner and wish to know the background of all my possible tenants.

Leave a Reply

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This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share this Article!

6 Replies to “ALERT: OPPOSE Hiding Eviction Reports / Unlawful Detainer in Tenant Screening (AB 2819)”

  1. Approximately 95% of unlawful detainers filed are for non-payment of rent. By hiding this information, the next rental owner will not have access to valuable rental history.
    Tenant advocates argue that an owner need only call the current landlord for rental history. This sounds logical in a perfect world. However, in the real world this process is flawed. 1) It’s difficult to verify that the person you are contacting is actually the landlord. (it could be their cousin) 2) An owner who is desperate to regain possession of their property may not be forthcoming of all the facts knowing it would delay the tenant’s move.
    With technology today, most any document (bank statements, paycheck stubs, etc) can be altered. The credit report is the best tool we have to determine credit worthiness.

  2. I would like to both know so please tell me how to do that as I see no possibility here. I am a landowner rental property owner and wish to know the background of all my possible tenants.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

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Navigating the world of lease agreements as a tenant can sometimes seem a bit daunting, especially when both parties aren’t clear about their rights and responsibilities. Ever been in a less-than-ideal rental housing situation in which you had to ask yourself, “Can a lease be voluntarily broken, and if so, can it be because of _______?”

Read More »
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Landlords: The FTC and CFPB Request Public Comment from You!

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) have united to inspect how background screening can impact American renters, with a particular emphasis on examining the use of criminal and housing court records and tenant screening practices. As part of a whole-of-government effort detailed in the White House’s January 2023 Blueprint, the FTC and CFPB are seeking public comment until March 30, 2023. We urge you to voice your unique industry perspective.

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The nation’s most trusted tenant screening for real estate agents, landlords, and property managers. No cost background checks available 24/7.

©2018 ApplyConnect. All rights reserved

ApplyConnect marks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of applyconnect.com. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.