Major Changes to Credit Screening
Due to growing problems with identity theft, the credit reporting industry has put new requirements into place to limit its exposure to lawsuits and government regulations. Unfortunately, these new requirements will impact all landlords and property managers in the United States who use consumer credit information.

The new rules are as follows: you must now sign a contract directly with the credit report provider (for SFAA members, that’s Credit Bureau Associates); you must provide a copy of your driver’s license and a utility bill that shows your name or your company’s name and your office address, which must match the address on your contract with CBA; and you must have an onsite inspection. Usually this inspection costs anywhere from $65 to $150, but SFAA members will not have to pay any inspection fees. Plus, your exclusive SFAA credit check pricing will remain the same.

You should have received a letter from SFAA informing you of these changes last month. If you ignored this letter detailing the new requirements and did not fill out a new contract, you need to send the appropriate documentation to CBA and schedule an onsite visit. Your tenant screening services are suspended until all of these tasks are completed. You will not be able to access credit reports from any authorized company until you have gone through the new registration and onsite inspection process.

Once you have completed these new requirements, your service will resume in much the same manner as it did before. However, there are some additional changes for independent owners who own rental property without a business license or a separate entrance to conduct rental operations. These owners will no longer be able to get two or three credit bureau reports. Instead, you can receive a single bureau’s report, an eviction report and other products offered by CBA.

If you have any questions regarding these changes, please contact SFAA at 415-255-2288 or CBA at 800-564-6440, extension 120 or 150, or check out their website at www.cbacredit.com.

New Rent Increase 1.5%
The San Francisco Rent Board recently announced the annual allowable rent increase: 1.5%. This increase goes into effect March 1, 2007, and expires February 29, 2008. The new rate is a slight drop from last year’s allowable increase of 1.7%. The allowable rent increase is based on 60% of the increase in the Bay Area’s Consumer Price Index.

Take Advantage of Bulky Item Collection
As part of the newly implemented garbage and recycling rate, tenants as well as owners can now schedule a bulky item pickup at no additional charge. Each apartment unit may schedule one such collection each calendar year and apartment owners may also schedule one collection per year. Up to five bulky nonrecyclable items can be placed on the curb at no additional charge. All items need to be on the curb by 6 a.m. the morning of the appointed pickup and clearly marked “Bulky Item Collection” or “BIC.”

To schedule a pickup, call Sunset Scavenger Company at 415-330-1300 and/or Golden Gate Disposal at 415-626-4000. Calls received by noon can usually be scheduled for a collection on the next business day. If the next day schedule is full, the pickup will be arranged for the next available service day. Service days are Monday through Friday. Due to the holiday service schedule, no bulky item collection is available before January 15, 2007.

Acceptable bulky items include properly prepared scrap metal, mattresses, electronics and appliances. Lumber and carpeting are also permitted, but must be tied in bundles not to exceed four feet in height. Items not accepted for pickup include propane tanks with the valve intact, construction debris, tires and hazardous waste.
For more information about bulky item collection and program requirements, go to www.sfrecycling.com and click on “Junk Hauling.”

New Member Cards
All SFAA members should be on the lookout this year for new and improved member cards. The more-durable laminated cards will be mailed to you and will take the place of the paper cards that are sent out each year when you renew your membership. This new card will be the only one you need to receive great discounts and offers through SFAA’s Member Rewards Program, many of which are detailed starting on page 63.

SFAA Welcomes Jeffery Woo to the Board
Congratulations to Jeffery Woo, who was recently elected to the SFAA Board of Directors. Woo has been a member for over 10 years, and although he joined the organization as a way to build a client base for his growing law firm, Woo & Associates, he soon realized that his membership was an important tool for understanding the concerns and problems in the rental housing industry; it also provided a front-row view of how changes to the San Francisco Rent Ordinance have had damaging effects on small property owners. One reason that he ran for the board seat is to make sure that SFAA’s voice is as powerful as possible, given most local politicians’ anti-ownership leanings. “The power of SFAA is in its collective voice being heard by our mayor and the Board of Supervisors. I will be contributing time and effort into continuing SFAA’s good work in this regard,” he promises.

And the SFAA Award Goes To…
In conjunction with its ninetieth anniversary, SFAA is pleased to announce its first-ever member awards competition and celebration. The specific award categories and the self-nomination form will be available next month in this magazine and at SFAA membership meetings. The winners of these membership awards will be honored in a ceremony this fall.

Magazine Seeks Columnist to Cover Property Management
SF Apartment Magazine is seeking a seasoned on-site property manager to write a quarterly column covering all aspects of managing an apartment building on-site. The ideal candidate should be well versed in leasing, rental forms, maintenance, repair and tenant communication, as well as knowledgeable about local and statewide rental housing laws. Familiarity with local politics and overall housing issues in San Francisco is a plus. Clever and talented writers are encouraged to apply. Please contact Managing Editor Emily Landes at 415-392-3770 or email emily@blackpointpress.com with a resume and two brief writing samples.

CAA Conference and Expo Announced
The California Apartment Association recently announced its 2007 Northern California Rental Housing Conference and Expo, to take place at the Santa Clara Convention Center on April 10-11, 2007. This year’s theme is Casino Royale. Associate members have a variety of sponsorship opportunities, ranging from the $500 “Showtime” sponsorship (which includes a banner in the reception area) to the $3,950 “Royal Flush” sponsorship (which includes a corner booth in a prime location and a color ad in the seminar workbook). For more information, contact CAA at 408-873-1599.