FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Debbie Potter, City of Alameda
510-747-6899
Council Extends Temporary Moratorium on Rent Increases at or above 8% and
Reaches Consensus on Future Rent Measures
At its January 5 meeting, the Alameda City Council voted unanimously to extend, for 60 days, an urgency ordinance prohibiting residential rent increases of eight percent or more and “no cause” evictions. The Council also gave City staff direction on drafting specific provisions to be included in a new rent ordinance for the Council’s consideration at its February 16 meeting.
During the moratorium, rents for multi-family buildings built before 1995 cannot be increased eight percent or more. This cap on rent increases is cumulative and takes into account rent increases imposed within the last 12 months. In addition, actions to terminate a tenancy, such as evictions, are limited to certain “for cause/no fault” reasons such as non-payment of rent, illegal activity, moving in a family member or going out of the rental business.
In addition to extending the existing moratorium, the City Council reached consensus on residential rental procedures and policies following presentations from City staff, landlord and tenant representatives, and public comments from over 50 speakers.
“Everyone worked overnight, until the early hours of the next morning, to move this issue forward,” said Mayor Trish Herrera Spencer. “Council continues to act unanimously to reach a fair resolution to this complex, important issue. I applaud our community, Council, and staff for their hard work and dedication.”
The Council asked staff to draft a new rent ordinance that strengthens the City’s rent review procedures to help resolve landlord-tenant disputes over rent increases. The new ordinance, to be presented for Council approval on February 16, will require all residential rental property owners to initiate the Rent Review Advisory Committee (RRAC) process if they seek rent increases over five percent. A major component of the new ordinance will be the requirement for binding arbitration if both sides do not reach agreement. The binding arbitration would only apply to multi-family rental units built before February 1, 1995, pursuant to state law.
The Council asked that the new ordinance contain the following provisions:
· Requirement of landlords to offer tenants an initial one-year lease;
· Limit rent increases to no more than once per year;
· No cause evictions permitted with limitations;
· Tenant relocation assistance for certain types of evictions;
· Preparation and approval of a Capital Improvement Plan prior to evicting tenants for substantial rehabilitation;
· Monetary penalties and enforcement; and
· An annual review of the ordinance and a sunset provision.
More information about the moratorium and the City’s current rent review process can be found at:
http://alamedaca.gov/city-hall/rent-review-advisory-committee-rrac. For specific questions about the current moratorium or rent review process, contact the Housing Authority at (510) 747-4346, or email to rrac@alamedahsg.org.
