Passionate about bringing positivity and fresh perspectives to the rental property industry CEO @ Good Life Property Management San Diego and Orange County. Managing over 1,300 units in San Diego and Orange County.
Share
Why I Do What I Do: Advocating for Balanced Housing Policies
Published over 1 year ago • 3 min read
Steve Welty
Issue# 6
July 2024
If you follow me on social media, you’ve likely noticed my increased activity around rental housing politics and policy. Since 2019, tenant protections and rent control have surged across the state, impacting areas like San Diego and Orange County. This wave of regulation has turned me from a passive observer to an active advocate for our community of housing providers and renters.
The Tipping Point: AB-2216
For the past few years, I’ve been a “casual advocate”—calling into city council meetings, clicking on email alerts, and messaging politicians about housing legislation. But AB-2216 was my tipping point. Proposed by Assemblyman Matt Haney, this bill represents a significant state overreach in rental housing by aiming to eliminate no-pet policies and prevent landlords from charging pet rent or a security deposit.
Understanding the Overreach
Policymakers need to balance protecting tenants’ rights to safe, stable housing with safeguarding property owners’ constitutional rights. James Madison, the primary author of the Constitution, stated, “As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights.” This means property is not just physical but a bundle of rights. Removing one of these metaphorical sticks is akin to taking something that belongs to the owner, raising questions about the value of the owner’s loss.
My Perspective on AB-2216
While I love pets and encourage clients to allow them, this bill raises several concerns. Pets, though beloved, are not a protected class. Laws already protect Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals. Forcing property owners to accept pets disregards other factors:
Some tenants prefer not to live near pets.
Pet allergies can pose serious health risks.
Concerns about potential pet-related damage to property.
Pets can sometimes disrupt other tenants.
Getting Involved
I researched who voted for this bill and found Assembly member Brian Maienschein from District 76.
District 76 map
I reached out to his office to understand his position. While Brian wasn’t available, I met with Mark Manning, who shared that Brian supported the bill with amendments to exclude smaller properties (15 units or fewer) and allow for a security deposit. This is a step in the right direction, but not enough for me to support the bill.
I advocate for market-based solutions rather than more regulation. If we want to encourage more housing providers to allow pets (most already do), perhaps there’s a tax credit for pet damage. Let’s incentivize rather than force unnecessary actions.
The Good News
Mark Manning informed me that AB-2216 has stalled in the Senate and is unlikely to move forward. This potential win shows that advocacy and active participation can make a difference. It’s essential to stay informed as this bill, or a similar one, might resurface.
Proposal: Housing Scorecard
To increase transparency, I propose a non-partisan housing scorecard to track how representatives vote on housing-related issues. This tool aims to enhance accountability and keep the public informed about the bills their representatives support.
Would you find such transparency valuable?
Participate in our single-question poll to share your thoughts.
Would a non-partisan housing scorecard that tracks how representatives vote on housing-related issues be valuable to you for promoting increased transparency?
Join us for The Good Life Landlord Essentials webinar! My team and I will share essential insights and strategies for landlords and real estate investors. Whether you’re new or experienced, you’ll find practical tips you can use.
Reserve Your Spot Now! Our first 60 seats filled up in one day. We’re opening 20 more spots for our loyal subscribers. Don’t miss out—secure your spot today!
Can’t join live? Reserve your spot, and we’ll send you the recording.
If you have a rental property, rent invoices should be a part of your payment process. Get our free rent invoice template and learn how to use it effectively.
That's it for this week! We hope you enjoyed the content and found it useful. Be sure to check your inbox next Saturday at 6 AM for our next update. Have a fantastic week!
P.S. Please share this newsletter with a friend, so they can join the conversation.
Passionate about bringing positivity and fresh perspectives to the rental property industry CEO @ Good Life Property Management San Diego and Orange County. Managing over 1,300 units in San Diego and Orange County.
Read more from The Housing Hero Newsletter By Steve Welty
Steve Welty Issue# 91 March 2026 Happy Saturday Housing Heroes, If you’ve leased out a property recently, you’ve probably had this thought at least once: “Is this application actually real?” And you’re not being paranoid. Rental fraud has quietly become one of the biggest challenges in leasing today. Over 70% of housing providers say fraud has increased in the last year, and more than 80% are seeing fake or manipulated income documents. So if things feel a little different lately… they are....
Steve Welty Issue# 90 March 2026 Happy Monday Housing Heroes, If you’ve owned a rental property for 10, 20, or even 30+ years, you’ve probably asked yourself the same question at some point: “What happens if I sell this property?” For many investors, the immediate fear is the tax bill. Capital gains. Depreciation recapture. State taxes. It can feel like the government takes a huge bite out of decades of hard work. But this week’s webinar reminded us of something important: A 1031 exchange...
Steve Welty Issue# 89 February 2026 Happy Saturday, Housing Heroes! The headlines say it all: California’s “junk fee” crackdown has been delayed. If you were bracing for AB 1248 to dramatically change how you structure resident fees in 2026, you can exhale, for now. Let’s break down what happened, what would have changed, and what this means for you moving forward. What Was AB 1248? AB 1248 was California’s proposed “junk fee” bill aimed directly at rental housing. The goal? Prevent landlords...
