63 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 15 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
General News   

State Senator Ted Lieu Introduces Bill to Block Rent Online Only Landlord Scheme

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   No comments
Follow Me on Twitter     Message Larry Gross
Become a Fan
State Senator Ted Lieu Introduces Bill to
Block Rent Online Only Landlord Scheme
 
Tenants Organized by CES at Woodlake Manor in the Crenshaw Area Fighting Rent Online Rent Payment Landlord Scheme.    http://conta.cc/xeAPVO

After reading CES' E-Newsletters regarding our efforts to organize tenants in 34 apartment complexes owned by Jones and Jone Management Company throughout L.A. to oppose their landlords demands for their rent to only be paid online, California State Senator Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) responded by taking decisive action against this abuse. Senator Lieu has just introduced Senate Bill (SB) 1055 that would require landlord to continue to accept rent by check or money order.

Here are the links to the emails that prompted Senator Lieu to take this important action:

  CES Fights New Landlord Scheme Demanding Online Rent Payment

  CES Fight Escalates Against New Landlord Eviction Scheme

Contact Your State Senator and State Assembly Member to urge their support for SB 1055 .

Below is a news release from Senator Lieu announcing the introduction of his bill SB 1055.



Sen. Lieu introduces bill to block landlords
from requiring tenants to pay rent only online

February 22, 2012

Complaints from residents prompt renter-protection bill

SACRAMENTO - In response to complaints from residents that more and more landlords are requiring rental payments be made only online, Sen. Ted W. Lieu today announced introduction of a bill that would ensure residents can continuing paying with check or money order.

"A growing number of landlords are no longer accepting checks or money orders from tenants," Lieu, D-Torrance, said about Senate Bill 1055. "Instead, they have begun to change rental agreements to require tenants - including the elderly, disabled and poor - to pay their rent online."
Rent Due

The issue came to light late in 2011 when hundreds of tenants in apartment complexes in Los Angeles objected when the property-management group notified residents of a 300-unit complex that the only way they could soon pay rent was online.

Current law does not specify how rent is to be paid. SB 1055 revises the law to prohibit landlords from requiring online only rental payments.

"Many residents of the rent-controlled complexes are elderly, live on fixed incomes and either have no computer or know little about computers," Lieu said, adding that it was unreasonable to ask renters who may be struggling to make ends meet to invest in a computer, Internet access and related expenses in order to rent a residence.

"We applaud Sen. Ted Lieu for introducing this important tenants'-rights legislation to protect renters," Larry Gross, executive director of the Los Angeles-based Coalition for Economic Survival said. "We believe this rent-online scheme is just another way to increase rent-controlled rents by evicting long-term, low-rent tenants who just happen to be, for the most part, seniors and the disabled. In other words, this affects those who likely are least able to pay online. "

SB 1055 is waiting to be assigned to a policy committee for review, which should occur within the next month.

Ted W. Lieu chairs the Senate Labor Committee and represents nearly 1 million residents of Senate District 28, which includes the cities of Carson, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Torrance, as well as portions of Long Beach, Los Angeles and San Pedro.

CES Logo
 
COALITION for ECONOMIC SURVIVAL  (CES)
514 Shatto Place, Suite 270  Los Angeles, CA 90020
Tel: 213-252-4411  * Fax: 213-252-4422
Web site: http://www.CESinAction.org
Rate It | View Ratings

Larry Gross Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Larry Gross is the Executive Director of the Coalition for Economic Survival (CES). He has been with CES for 42 years, since its inception in 1973. CES is a grassroots, multi-racial, multi-ethnic tenants' rights organization serving low and (more...)
 

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Follow Me on Twitter     Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

West Hollywood: City Built on Rent Control Celebrates 25th Anniversary

PEOPLE'S VICTORY!! US Court of Appeals Rules to Protect Section 8 Tenants

Protests Erupt As LA City Council Kills Rent Freeze

The Concert for Social Justice -- An Event Not to be Missed

Walmart Workers & Supporters Rally and Demand Justice at South L.A. Walmart

United Nations Investigates Affordable Housing Crisis in LA

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend