Over opposition from the Austin Apartment Association, City Council passed a resolution Thursday designed to protect renters from unexpected fees tied to lease agreements. The agenda item, sponsored by Council Member Ryan Alter, directs the city manager to work with relevant stakeholders in preparing an ordinance that would apply to landlords owning five or more […]
Austin Apartment Association
local trade association comprised of groups that represent and the apartment rental industry. The Austin Apartment Association has donated to the Austin Monitor.
Posted inHousing
Are rents falling? Apartment association sees construction, weak demand causing ‘negative rent growth’
A combination of softer demand by renters and new multifamily apartment units completing construction has caused some lowering of rents in the Austin market, according to members of the Austin Apartment Association. At a series of panel discussions last week, the appearance of “negative rent growth” after years of upward movement was a topic of […]
Posted inCity Council
Council approves push to make air conditioning a requirement in Austin
This summer, a stretch of hot, dry weather in Austin has tested everyone’s patience. The record-high heat has also posed a danger to those not lucky enough to feel the relief of air conditioning. A new City Council resolution looks to make sure that’s as few people as possible. The resolution, approved by Council on […]
Posted inHousing
Council approves ordinances to strengthen renters’ rights
City Council approved two ordinances Thursday enshrining the right of tenants to organize and to remedy lease violations prior to eviction. As rents in Austin continue to rise, tenant advocates say the ordinances are increasingly necessary to help prevent eviction and to allow tenants to collectively demand better living conditions and fair treatment from landlords. […]
Posted inHousing
Rent deferred. Full amount due. What landlords are telling tenants during the COVID-19 crisis.
It’s a hell of a time to try to open a restaurant. That’s what Steven Kresena was thinking last week as he watched Austin Mayor Steve Adler order all restaurants and bars closed to diners in an attempt to stall the spread of the coronavirus. Kresena had just inspected the tile in his new restaurant, […]
Posted inCourts
Council looks at legal options after appeals court throws out housing voucher challenge
Members of City Council have criticized a recent decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to throw out the city’s lawsuit against state Attorney General Ken Paxton over a state law passed in 2015 that prevents cities from requiring landlords to accept federal housing vouchers. The law was passed in response to a […]
Posted inHousing
Apartment owners, managers learn about options for voucher users in housing crunch
Owners and managers of rental properties throughout Austin recently met with representatives from local housing organizations to learn about the options for making housing units available for those at risk of becoming homeless. An Oct. 31 panel organized by the Austin Apartment Association featured representatives from the Housing Authority of the City of Austin, Caritas […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Coalition asks to keep CodeNEXT on track
A coalition of eight Austin organizations got together to ask the city to honor a January 2017 deadline for the new land development code draft on Wednesday. Pointing out that four years have passed since the rewrite was laid out in the Imagine Austin comprehensive plan, representatives from AURA, the Austin Apartment Association, the Austin Board of Realtors, […]
Posted inHousing
Committee considers expanding proposed tenant relocation policy
Though the city of Austin currently has no formal policy for helping displaced tenants, change is on the way. And, after a meeting of the Housing and Community Development Committee, it looks like that policy could be expanded to offer protections to mobile home residents as well. The committee heard an update on a proposed […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Housing, Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: The Austin Apartment Association and Source of Income
The Austin Apartment Association’s Robbie Robinson joins Monitor Publisher Mike Kanin to discuss recent Council legislation that banned the use of source of income as a means to deny tenant occupancy and the organization’s opposition to the move. Embedded below. Austin Monitor Radio is sponsored by Kerby Lane Cafe. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/186198266″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics
Source of Income ordinance blocked, for now
A federal judge Tuesday temporarily blocked the implementation of a city ordinance that aims to expand housing options for low-income residents who use housing vouchers. The so-called Source of Income Ordinance was scheduled to go into effect Jan. 12. However, U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks stayed the implementation of the ordinance until he holds a […]
Posted inAustin, Courts, Development, Housing
Source of income rule OK’d, lawsuit threatened
Starting in mid-January, Austin property owners will be barred from discriminating against potential renters based on their source of income. The Austin Apartment Association plans to file a lawsuit to block the new policy. City Council unanimously passed the ordinance Thursday after hearing arguments from public speakers for and against it. Proponents believe it will […]