Know Your Rights

Note: The limits on rent increases explained below apply to multi-family rental homes in the city of Alameda, CA, built before 1995 due to exemptions governed by the state law Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act. If your home is exempt from local rent control, you may have some protections under the California Tenant Protection Act, or AB 1482. See also this fact sheet on AB 1482 and affordable housing.

For more detailed information, refer to the Alameda Rent Program FAQ.

For COVID-19 related renter information, please see this COVID-19 Renter FAQ.

Just-Cause Eviction

  • Alameda rent law does not allow most “no-cause” evictions. Per the city website, you may be evicted only under the following grounds:

    • “For Cause” Grounds:

      • Failure to Pay Rent - review state law for more information

      • Breach of Lease - review state law for more information

      • Nuisance - review state law for more information

      • Failure to Give Access - review state law for more information

    • “No Fault” Grounds

      • Owner Move-In - the property cannot have a comparable vacant unit available

      • Demolition - the landlord must already have City approved permits for the demolition

      • Capital Improvement Plan - the landlord must already have an approval from the program for the Capital Improvement Plan

      • Withdrawal from the Rental Market - the landlord certifies in good faith permanent removal of the unit from the rental market, regardless of a change in ownership [Ellis Act - Click here for more information (PDF, 495KB)]

      • Compliance with a Governmental Order - the termination of tenancy must be an action to comply with a government notice

Rent Increases

  • Rent increases are capped at 3.5% for the period of September 2022 through August 2023.

  • From 2020 on, the maximum annual rent increase will be calculated at 70% of the area Consumer Price Index (CPI).

  • For rules on banking of rent increases, see the Banking section of the Alameda Rent Program FAQ.

Relocation Fees

  • You are due relocation fees if you are evicted for Owner Move-In, Demolition, Capital Improvement Plan, Withdrawal From the Rental Market, or Compliance with a Governmental Order.

  • For examples, please refer to the Permanent Relocation Payments section of the Rent Program FAQ.

COVID-19 Emergency Ordinance 20-02: Eviction Protections (These protections have ended.)

  • Evictions based on failure to pay, capital improvements, or owner move-ins are prohibited until 30 days after the end of the local State of Emergency.

  • Residential tenants were required to resume their regular rent payments on October 1, 2021.

  • Under state law, as of May 1, 2022, tenants must start repaying unpaid back rent and they have until May 31, 2023 to repay all back rent.

  • Tenants are encouraged to contact their landlords if they cannot pay any or all of their rent.

 

Keep Alamedans in Their Homes