October Newsletter

The first annual MAA Conference & Tradeshow was a success! Attendees were offered 6 education session throughout the day. From learning about NAA benefits to the landlord-tenant law, there was a session for everyone. The day ended with a Monopoly-themed tradeshow where we had over 80 members in attendance.

2017 NAA Per Unit Lease Pricing

Effective January 1, 2017 NAA will be transitioning to a units-based pricing structure that will replace the current click-based pricing. NAA offers two Click & Lease packages.

Apartment Package

Required for any community with 50 or more units.

Recurring Annual Fee:

NAA Affiliate Membership Dues (based on property location)
$300 Blue Moon license fee
$2.99 per-unit fee

Provides unlimited printing of NAA lease forms, e-signature, unlimited document storage and online leasing application.

Bundled Small Property Package

Designed for multiple small properties owned or managed by the same company and located within the same affiliate territory with less than 50 units per property.

Recurring Annual Fee:

NAA Affiliate Membership Dues (based on property location)
$300 Blue Moon license fee
$2.99 per-unit fee

Provides unlimited printing of NAA lease forms, e-signature, unlimited document storage and online leasing application.

Small Owner Package

Designed for communities with less than 50 units each.

Recurring Annual Fee:

NAA Affiliate Membership Dues (based on property location)
$100 per license fee (includes first 20 units)
$5.00 per additional unit fee

Provides unlimited printing of NAA lease forms, e-signature, unlimited document storage and online leasing application.

Government Affairs Update

City of Pearl
In 2014 the City of Pearl implemented a new ordinance that would require apartment owners to install sprinklers in every unit and build a storm shelter big enough to house every tenant. A group of 10 rental property owners in Pearl filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming the new ordinance is unconstitutional. The group had a Preliminary Injunction Motion in December of 2015. Just last month Judge Windgate denied their group's motion to dismiss. The hearing is tentatively set for November. The group has also filed our Appellants’ Brief with the Mississippi Supreme Court in their state court appeal.

City of Hattiesburg
In May the City of Hattiesburg proposed a change to the way the city calculates minimum water usage. Rather than charge minimums per meter, the city would charge a minimum per each individual rental unit regardless of the number of meters on property. Properties in Hattiesburg would have seen a 200% increase in their water bills if the rate increase was approved by the city. In September the city cut the water and sewer rates

City of Ridgeland

The city also agreed to submit to HUD a proposed Affordable and Fair Housing Marketing Plan which encourages the development

Under the Conciliation Agreement, the City of Ridgeland has agreed to amend the 2014 Ordinance so that multifamily properties are treated as they were prior to the Ordinance when it comes to use and density; provide notice to property managers and/or owners of multifamily properties in advance of any public hearings contemplating changes to existing zoning, land use, and occupancy policies; and process all zoning, land use, building and occupancy approvals and permits in good faith and in a timely manner.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced an agreement with Ridgeland to resolve complaints that the city violated the Fair Housing Act when it passed and enforced a zoning ordinance that HUD claimed was motivated by racial animus and created a discriminatory effect on the city’s African American residents. Other majority minority complexes were subjected to lower density restrictions, which could have resulted in a loss of hundreds of additional apartment units.

In December of 2015, HUD filed a fair housing complaint against the City of Ridgeland after receiving reports that a number of apartment complexes faced possible demolition after the city instituted a new zoning requirement that lowered the allowable density.

Specifically, HUD complained the city’s new zoning ordinance called for several of the apartment complexes with the highest minority populations to be amortized, putting more than 1,400 units at risk of being replaced with mixed-use developments.

HUD also alleged that
ofmixed income communities and provides tangible steps for conducting outreach and engaging the residents of Southeastern Ridgeland in the community planning process.

Government Affairs Call For Action

The Mississippi Apartment Association Government Affairs Committee oversees coordination of grassroots efforts, brings awareness to government leaders about the importance of the apartment community, and seeks to cause positive outcomes on issues which impact our industry.

It is important when issues or proposed ordinance changes arise that we take action. Help protect the apartment industry by letting MAA know of anything in your area that may negatively affect the industry.

We need to hear from you so we may be proactive for our industry. What’s going on in your area that could impact the apartment industry? Please fill out this quick survey so we can better serve you.

Apartment Industry Applauds Administration’s Call to Remove Local Barriers to Increase Affordable Housing Development

Contact: Carole Roper or Jim Lapides

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) and National Apartment Association (NAA) issued the following statement today in response to the Obama Administration’s release of a Housing Development Toolkit to encourage local governments to remove barriers to the development of apartment homes and increase overall housing affordability:

“We thank the President for calling on city and county governments to overhaul antiquated land-use policies and bring in more multifamily housing. With the number of families renting at an all-time high, the need for apartments is more important than ever. Increased multifamily development lowers the cost of housing while adding dollars and jobs to local economies.

“The Housing Development Toolkit brings national attention to the housing affordability crisis. We're pleased to see the Federal Government making housing a higher priority, as this unprecedented demand can only be met by our industry working in tandem with governments at all levels.

"We look forward to working with the Administration and local officials to increase housing affordability across the country.

Copyright © *2016* *MS Apartment Association*, All rights reserved.

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*22 Avalon Circle Brandon, MS 39047|*

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Mississippi Apartment Association · P.O. Box 1202 · Brandon, MS 39043 · USA