Housing | This means that starting Sunday, April 30, tens of thousands of This was an expectation that at some point you were going to pay your rent.. To learn more about how we use your information, please read our privacy policy. The hearing was a significant step in a lawsuit filed by a group of rental property owners against the city and county in March, arguing that the pandemic eviction bans constitute an illegal taking of private property by the government and that the policies conflict with state law. The material in this communication may be subject to copyright under the Act. Housing & Homelessness Landlords argue in court to end Oakland and Alameda County eviction moratoriums A federal judge is expected to issue a decision Were journalists for Oakland. The Alameda County moratorium, enacted in March 2020, is one of the few surviving protections in the state. As Beeler peppered lawyers for both sides with questions, it was not clear whether she was convinced that the substance of the eviction moratoriums violated landlords constitutional rights. Any further reproduction or communication of this material by you may be subject of copyright protection under the Act. Supporters for ending the moratorium in July said they will give needed time to educate tenants and make legal referrals. Alameda County ended its moratorium on evictions Saturday, a policy it first put in place in March of 2020 in response to the pandemic. Los Angeles also has a moratorium in place, and has been sued by the local landlord association. WebThe Alameda County Board of Supervisors has enacted a temporary moratorium on evictions countywide in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19 ) pandemic. <>/Metadata 267 0 R/ViewerPreferences 268 0 R>> A survey of landlords (PDF) conducted by the Alameda County Community Development Agency this spring found that 67% of respondents said they would pursue an eviction after the moratorium expired. Q: Is there rent protection for commercial tenants?A:During COVID, commercial tenants had an eviction defense for unpaid rent that was due to a "substantial loss of income." Q: I heard that the States eviction moratorium is ending; am I protected under local law?A:Under the States COVID-19 rental protections tenants cannot be evicted if, due to COVID-19 financial distress, they cannot pay rent that came due during the covered periodMarch 1, 2020 until September 30, 2021. In Oakland, its landlords who are unhappy with a plan to end eviction ban For instance, if you violated your lease by moving someone into your home without permission from your landlord, or destroyed property, or violated the lease in some other way, she said. Housing | If you get a summons from the courthouse, you have five days to respond. 10-20-38, Contract Documents for Traffic Signal Controller Cabinets, Contract Documents for Battery Backup System, Contract Documents for Traffic Signal Controllers, Contract Documents for Video Image Detection System, Notice of Funding Availability & Request for Proposals, Request for Proposals for On-Call Land Surveyor Services, Request for Proposals for Pest Control Services, RFP:Mechanical/HVAC Preventative Maintenance & Repair at City Faciliti, Request for Bids for Landscape Maintenance Services Various Locations, REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS/PROPOSALS FOR HEARING OFFICER SERVICES. Our local governments took the steps needed to keep us safe, said ACCE lawyer Jackie Zaneri, calling the lawsuit a threat to all moratoriums everywhere. Some local moratoria remained, but many of those have expired or are expiring soon. To help keep our streets clean from debris and safe for all modes of travel, the City will resume street sweeping service according to posted schedules this Monday, June 15, 2020. There has not been clear data on the number of renters whove missed payments locally, making it hard to determine the overall financial impact of the moratorium on landlords. This story contains reporting from KQEDs Rachel Vasquez and Carly Severn. Housing | The Oakland City Council made a late-night decision Tuesday toward ending the city's moratorium on evictions. Across Alameda County, rental housing providers remain prohibited from evicting a tenant for practically any reason. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. But if it werent for rent control, Id be on Wood Street, she said, referring to the citys largest homeless camp, which is currently being shut down. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 600 more apartments at Brooklyn Basin? Alameda / Berkeley / Oakland. Q: Can the landlord shut off my utilities?A:The City Council has barred landlords from shutting off utilities, except in case of an emergency or as part of an "essential activity" under the shelter-in-place order; and then, only for the shortest time necessary. A successful challenge to the ban, she said, will allow us to go after the bad actors.. Its really important that you respond because if you dont, you wont actually have any protections, she said. PW 05-19-26, RFP: Chuck Corica Golf Course Parking Lot Improvements, Preparation of Eng Docs for Upgrade of Sewer Pump Stations, Group 5, RFP for FY 2020 Sign & Striping Maintenance, PW No. However, the Alameda County Temporary Eviction Moratorium expired September 2021. I dont want to give tenants [in those cities] the impression that they are 100% safe, said Starratt. (510) 747-7400 Alameda County landlords have felt stifled by the broad local protections, which have allowed some tenants to live rent-free even when they have not lost income or fallen ill to the virus. Please be sure to respond to your application coordinator when contacted to speed up approval. Local Moratorium Expires 60 Days After the End of the Public Health Emergency Order, Alameda County Housing and Community Development, ALL IN Alameda County and Initiatives Have Transitioned into Alameda County Agencies, Alameda County Supervisor Dave Browns Biweekly Newsletter (October 11, 2022), Board of Supervisors Passes Resolution in Support of Reproductive Rights in Alameda County, Alameda County Supervisor Dave Browns Biweekly Newsletter (March 7, 2022), Alameda County Supervisor Dave Brownss Biweekly Newsletter (February 7, 2022). COVID-19 Rent Relief Resources for Alameda County Residents: Alameda County Housing Secure:www.ac-housingsecure.org Those contracts will be going before the Alameda County Board of Supervisors hopefully before the end of May in order to help those landlords that didnt get paid., We really dont want landlords to lose their properties, so were trying to get some of these resources into the community, Starratt said. Q: Are there any programs to help commercial tenants pay rent?A: While many assistance programs are no longer available, there are still business loans and grants available for eligible Alameda businesses. If you are a tenant at risk of eviction or displacement, you may qualify for legal services under AC Housing Secure. The laws dont relieve tenants of their obligation to pay rent, but they say property owners cant evict them if they dont. To get more information about the State's rental assistance program visithttps://housing.ca.govor call 1-833-430-2122. Original Broadcast Date: July 2022On-Demand Cost: Free to CAA Member/ $49 Non-MemberEstimated Course Length: 30 mins. Otherwise, the landlord can charge a late fee. <> OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland City Council early Wednesday morning made a decision toward ending the city's moratorium on evictions. During a public comment period, more than 100 people addressed the council, including tenants, who said the council decision favors landlords. The program will continue to process qualifying applications but the application portal closed on May 13, 2022 at 11:59pm. Alameda County Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) seeks to create a pool of qualified consultants to perform special projects on an as needed basis. We have received more requests than we currently have funds available. Applications can be found athttps://www.ac-housingsecure.org. Its important to remember the original purpose of the COVID-19 Alameda County eviction moratorium, said Starratt: This was not a rent strike. The differences between the countys moratorium and the city moratoriums mean that if you live in Oakland, Berkeley or San Leandro, its really important to understand exactly what your citys rules do and do not protect you against. Lawyers for Oakland and Alameda County warned the judge that a ruling accepting the landlords legal interpretation could have widespread and unintended consequences for other, unrelated housing laws. The budget also included $250,000 for legal aid organizations to prepare for implementation of the CARE Act. You must give your landlord a financial distress declaration (download the declaration athttps://bit.ly/32W0XRp) every time you receive a notice to pay rent and are unable to pay. Tenant group ACCE rallied outside the courthouse Thursday, opposing the attempt to undo the eviction moratoriums. The protections were established by Alameda County in 2020 as a way to protect renters from the financial fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. A tenant not paying their rent is grounds for eviction, said Starratt in an interview with KQED. Thus, Alameda Countys pandemic-era eviction moratorium will remain in effect through April 29. Even though her boyfriend lost income during the pandemic, Garcias household has been able to make rent payments, she said. % For more information on the Alameda County Eviction Moratorium, please visit theAlameda County Housing and Community Developmenthome page. For more information please click here. Starratt says that in an Alameda County community survey of landlords in fall 2022 and spring 2023, landlords reported that fully 50% of the rent thats owed is owed by tenants who are over-income meaning theyre with homeless service providers. Who Can I Talk to? by soddie | Sep 30, 2021 | Current News, News & Announcements. Tenants with unpaid rents accumulated during the moratorium may not be evicted for such unpaid rents but landlords may still pursue unpaid rent in small claims court. A judge could kick that part of our [Alameda County] ordinance out. Tenants are therefore encouraged to learn more about and apply for rental assistance (see information below). The Alameda County moratorium, enacted in March 2020, is one of the few surviving protections in the state. The language for the new form is in section 15 of AB 832. Alameda County's eviction moratorium ordinance, enacted to protect tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, ends 60 days after the end of the County health emergency. Attorney General Bonta provides the following information to help Californians understand the However, as of May 1, 2022, landlords may serve tenants with notices of rent increases for no more than the current cap, which is 2.7%. Each application is evaluated and prioritized based on those most at risk of homelessness, including small landlords. Gov. If you didnt pay your rent and used that money on other items, you could be faced with a court assigning your wages to the landlord in order for the landlord to get their back rent, warned Starratt. Louis Hansen covers housing issues for the Bay Area News Group and is based at The Mercury News. Eligible tenants can contest or overturn an eviction at any time before leaving or being evicted by the sheriff, even after the three-day notice period, after receiving the lawsuit, or after a ruling against them. Note that regardless of the dates and even if you provided your landlord with a financial distress declaration, tenants must still pay all unpaid rent by May 31, 2023. WARNING This material has been reproduced and communicated to you by or on behalf of California Apartment Association in accordance with section 113P of the Copyright Act 1968 (Act). Thank you for supporting The Oaklandside and being a part of our community. If you get a notice from your landlord, time is of the essence for you to respond, says Starratt. For their part, property owners say they plan to collect what theyre owed. Joining CAA will help you comply with laws and regulations that you need to understand for the protection of your rental housing business. The policy was aimed at protecting tenants whose financial situation was affected by COVID and were at-risk of becoming unhoused. A second and final city council vote is still needed, and that's expected on May 2. The Alameda County eviction moratorium prohibits most evictions in Alameda County and will end 60 days after the Public Health Emergency Order ends. No: The Alameda County cities of Oakland, Berkeley and San Leandro still have their own eviction moratoriums, and those will remain in effect after the countys eviction moratorium expires on Saturday: That said, just because a city in Alameda County has its own eviction moratorium doesnt mean renters in that city cant be evicted. If you Click here for resources for tenants and property owners: ac-housingsecure.org. The Alameda County eviction moratorium prohibits most evictions in Alameda County and will end 60 days after the Public Health Emergency Order ends. At the conclusion of Thursdays court hearing Beeler said she will take their arguments into consideration and issue a decision soon. WebAlthough Californias eviction protections for tenants with pending rental assistance applications ended June 30, 2022; Alameda Countys stringent eviction moratorium remains in effect. Housing is Key is the State of Californias COVID-19 housing relief portal. Their landlord could serve them with a three-day notice to pay or quit.. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. While the State of Californias Eviction Moratorium ends today, September 30, 2021, the Alameda County local eviction moratorium remains in effect. As for Oakland, no changes, and its moratorium remains in place. This protection remains in place until 30 days after the declared state of emergency is over. What an interesting case, Judge Laurel Beeler told lawyers Thursday morning, in a courtroom where about 20 property owners and tenant advocates observed quietly. Housing is Key includes information on eviction protections, applications for tenants and landlords to apply for rental relief, and foreclosure assistance for homeowners. It wont matter if the [Alameda County] eviction moratorium protected you you wont be able to use that as a reason to defend against an eviction notice.. Zinn said it was not appropriate for lawyers or judges to determine when or how to draw the line on a pandemic policy, saying that should be left to legislators. The county followed on April 21 by passing its own moratorium. May 5, 2022 Whitney Prout CAA Legal and Compliance Counsel The California Apartment Association on Thursday filed a lawsuit in federal court against Alameda County, alleging that its eviction moratorium infringes on rental housing providers constitutional rights and violates state law. The stress has caused Tripti Jain major anxiety and emotional distress, including panic attacks, and causing her to require occasional medication to treat the effects of the stress and anxiety, the suit said. Q: Can I be evicted for"nofault,"suchas an owner move-in?A:No. The endobj This means that starting Sunday, April 30, tens of thousands of Alameda County residents must pay rent for the first time in three years. Some Oakland officials have talked about beginning to phase out the moratorium soon, likely in small steps. 201, Legal Assistance for Seniors: (510) 832-3040, Housing and Economic Rights Advocates: (510) 271-8443, ext. I Still Have Questions About The City's Laws For renters. However, the moratorium ordinance provided that it would remain in place until 60 days after the lapsing of Alameda Countys COVID-19 health emergency. The State has required a new Notice of Rights form that landlords must serve with any notice demanding payment of rent beginning July 1, 2021. It could drop a bomb on rent control, Zinn said. Alameda, CA 94501 New tenants moved into the house in January 2020, and have yet to pay rent, the suit said. The suit is the second challenge to the countys moratorium, following another suit by local landlords. Shortly after the COVID-19 crisis got underway in March 2020, the Oakland City Council and Alameda County Board of Supervisors passed temporary eviction bans, prohibiting landlords from forcing renters to leave their homes, with some exceptions including if the renter threatens their neighbors safety. We looked very closely at what was happening in surrounding communities like Contra Costa and Santa Clara County when their eviction moratoriums ended last fall, she said. To learn more or apply, go to RenewAC.org, or contact Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley at (510) 803-3388 or HomeRepair@HabitatEBSC.org. Housing | The state emergency rental assistance program, a $5.5 billion aid package to landlords and renters, stopped accepting new applications in March 31. Im one of the lucky few, but so many people I know have been affected by eviction threats and illegal rent increases, Oakland tenant Annemarie Garcia told The Oaklandside. Its a little odd, at this stage in the pandemic, to have an ordinance with no end date, she said. %PDF-1.7 The council Thousands of tenants in Oakland and across Alameda County will be rendered homeless if it is ended. How renters will be protected when Oaklands eviction ban ends in July If the moratorium phase-out is approved, it would also end a limit put on how much rent could be increased, starting in July 2024. She was previously on staff at Berkeleyside, where her extensive reporting on the legacy of school desegregation received recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists NorCal and the Education Writers Association. Housing | ", Ann McClain told the council: "Three years have passed where rental property owners have been abused, rental owners are owed thousands individually and millions collectively.". The California Apartment Association, a statewide landlord lobbying group, is also participating in the lawsuit. J5T. At 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, Alameda Countys eviction moratorium expired. Thank you. Rents for this period are subject to the eviction protections described above. WebHon. WebAlameda County remains on an island with a draconian eviction moratorium that may have made sense at the outset of the pandemic but makes little sense now. Keep reading for what to know about the end of the eviction moratorium in Alameda County. The policies, considered some of the strongest pandemic tenant protections in the country, were intended to give renters housing security and prevent a rise in homelessness as large populations of renters faced job loss and increased childcare duties. He's won national awards for his investigations and feature stories. The landlords in the suit describe loss of income and financial hardships because they have been unable to displace their tenants. The suit marks the latest step toward dismantling COVID-19 protections for tenants, as health risks have diminished and many state and local programs and efforts have expired. The protections were established by Alameda County in 2020 as a way to protect renters from the
