Did you know most states prohibit rent control? Or that here in California rent control is not allowed, only rent stabilization? Plus, the State of California won’t let any local jurisdiction put any building built after 1995 under any form of rent restriction!

Even in California, rent control comes in many shapes – but more and more places are strengthening tenant protections, and soon we will have a statewide movement big enough to repeal Costa-Hawkins, end the Ellis Act, and allow real rent control like Berkeley once enjoyed!

People are starting to realize that “rent control drives up housing prices” is just another landlord lie. If rent control drives up rents, why does it cost just as much to live in Albany (no rent control) as in Berkeley?

Here’s some good info on exciting changes all around us:

San Mateo County
http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county-times/ci_27620755/san-mateo-county-affordable-housing-crisis-inspires-talks
“If the supervisors were to adopt rent stabilization, the policy would apply only to the county’s unincorporated areas, including the rural coast and the hills of San Mateo and Redwood City. But County Manager John Maltbie said the task force could have a broader impact by engaging city leaders in the conversation.”
“Joshua Howard, with the local apartment association, said job growth has caused the demand for housing to skyrocket and that some property owners he called a “few bad apples” have taken advantage of their tenants by jacking up their rents. “We are discouraging property owners to not be the poster child for rent control,” Howard said about property owners who have raised rents exorbitantly and recent efforts to highlight the impacts on the area’s working poor.” http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/lnews/2015-02-25/san-mateo-county-to-study-rent-control-supervisors-form-blue-ribbon-task-force-on-housing/1776425139003.html

Emeryville Wants to Organize
https://neighborland.com/ideas/emeryville-rent-control

63% of Emeryville Households Rent
http://evilleeye.com/news-commentary/commentary/op-ed-the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-city-is-housing/

Mountain View Wimps Out
http://www.sanjoseinside.com/2014/10/29/rent-control-off-the-table-in-mountain-view-for-now/
“While many of the prospective candidates for the council sympathized with Garcia, none seem keen to take on developers and big-monied apartment lobbies like the California Apartment Association’s Tri-County Division and the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors. Of the nine candidates, most said they simply don’t think rent control will work, including all three renters in the race.”

Rumors say San Jose Renters Want Better Protections
www.sanjoseca.gov/FAQ.aspx?QID=521
“Apartment rents can be raised without a hearing by 8%. They can be raised 21% if the last increase was more than 24 months ago. A landlord can propose a larger rent increase, but it can be contested by the tenant.”

Alameda – the City with a Rent Board but No Rent Increase Restrictions!
http://www.alamedamagazine.com/Alameda-Magazine/July-2014/Is-Rent-Control-the-Answer/

Richmond Housing Element Rejects Rent Control, for Now
http://richmondconfidential.org/2013/01/23/housing-plan-sparks-arguments-on-rent-control-just-cause-evictions/

Richmond Did Extend Good Cause for Eviction to Foreclosures:
Richmond Municipal Code § 7.105.020

Costa-Hawkins:
www.sfaa.org/pdf/CAA-Insights-Costa-Hawkins-Rental-Housing-Act.pdf

Rent Control Laws By State:
http://www.landlord.com/rent_control_laws_by_state.htm

California Cities with Rent Restrictions:
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/Rent_Stabilization_Board/Home/Other_Rent_Control_Jurisdictions.aspx

3000 block of College Ave.

Rents in Berkeley are rising dramatically. What’s going on? Two things are creating upward pressure on both rent- and non-rent-controlled units. These phenomena are:

1) The skyrocketing rents in San Francisco, which push people across the Bay, and
2) The ongoing construction of expensive new (thus not rent-controlled) apartment housing in Berkeley.

If you’re a doctor or high-paid techie, no problem. But if you’re a teacher or postal worker, good luck! Berkeley is becoming a bedroom community of upper-middle class professionals.

From $1817 to $3465
1300 block of Euclid Ave

This one-bedroom unit was rented back in 2002 at $1,550 to one tenant. Its 2014 rent ceiling is $1,817.93. Had it remained rent-controlled under pre-Costa-Hawkins rules, the rent ceiling would be $1,353.

The owner recently filed a Vacancy Registration stating that the unit had been rented to a new tenant on July 1 for $3,465. Still listed as one bedroom, still rented to one tenant.

From $1250 to $3380
1200 block of Alcatraz Avenue

This one looks like a flip, and sure enough, some pretty big rent increases have been taken. Here is the history:

All three units were rented out by the previous owner in 2007/2008:
#A was rented out in 2007 at $1,250;
#B was rented out in 2008 at $1,000;
#C was rented out in 2008 at $450 (it is a studio, but this still seems like a below-market rent).

In 2008 #A was claimed exempt because it was rented out to a Section 8 tenant, and #C was claimed exempt as not available for rent. (No change reported for #B.)

In December 2012, the entire property changed hands, and all three units were claimed exempt as owner-occupied as of that date, probably in error.

Then, in May 2013, the property was sold to a new owner. And sure enough, in August of 2013: Rents more than twice those charged in 2007/08!

#A was rented for $3,380;
#B was rented for $2,380,
#C was rented for $1,080.

The new owner has listed the property for sale several times – this is from one recent real estate listing: “Currently Producing $6840 a month from rent. THE HIGHEST RETURN ON THE MARKET IN BERKELEY! Average rent per unit is $2280. Over 200 applicants prior to August 2013 placement of current tenants. There are no substitutes for good quality of life & peace of mind! Maybe that’s why an all cash million dollar offer was dismissed?

From $3090 to $3690
1500 block of Walnut Street

This also seems to represent fairly big rent increases over the years, but it also needs to be said that the rent goes up as the number of tenants goes up.

In 2002, it was rented to 4 people for $2,200.
In 2005, it was rented to 2 people for $1,750.
In 2009, it was rented to 5 people for $3,090.
In 2012, it was rented to 7 people for $3,690.

Thus, not quite apples to apples. Without Costa-Hawkins rent increases, under Berkeley’s old system of rent control, the rent ceiling would be $1,326.

From $1600 to $3200
3000 block of College Ave

Two of the units have turned over and been fixed up. The tenant in the third unit, who had several cases before the Rent Board, recently passed away. We assume that in the near future the Board will receive a revised registration form raising the rent significantly.

While the owner has done substantial work on the property, it was purchased for a bargain price in 2008 and the owner only pays taxes on a value equal to the average single family home bought in Berkeley this year, while soon his rents will total Over $110,000 a Year for this triplex.

Unit 1
Before Costa Hawkins increase — $674.27.
After Costa Hawkins increase — $3,300.00 (8/1/13).

Unit 2
Before Costa Hawkins increase — $581.61.
After Costa Hawkins increase #1 — $1,600.00 (8/1/12).
After Costa Hawkins increase #2 — $3,200.00 (6/1/13).

Unit 3 (long-term rent controlled tenant) — $670.46.

Average rent in San Francisco jumped 19% this year.

“Priceonomics puts the median price of a San Francisco apartment renting today at $3,600, up from $3,023 last year. Studios are fetching $2,300, one-bedrooms come in at $3,120, the median two-bedroom costs $4,000, and three-bedrooms are going for $4,795.”
http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2014/08/14/colorcoding_san_franciscos_totally_bonkers_rental_market.php

Rent Prices Are Going Up, But Your Income Isn't. Original chart with data source: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/06/rental-affordability-crisis-hud
Rent Prices Are Going Up, But Your Income Isn’t. Original chart with data source: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/06/rental-affordability-crisis-hud

The numbers are a good indicator of why any eviction from a rent-controlled unit today is also an eviction from San Francisco entirely: prices are just too damn high to find a new apartment at a comparable rate.
http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2014/08/13/san-francisco-rent-explosion-median-rent-two-bedroom-apartment-tops-4k

It’s a national problem: the foreclosure crisis made former owners into renters, the federal government cut housing assistance, and now more than 28% of Americans pay more than half of their salaries for rent.
Mother Jones: National Data on Rising Rents
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/06/rental-affordability-crisis-hud