Title
Recommendation to Accept the Annual Report for the Rent Stabilization Program. (Rent Stabilization 265)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: David L. Rudat, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Section 6-58.195 of the Rent Review, Rent Stabilization and Limitations on Evictions Ordinance requires preparation of an annual report assessing the effectiveness of the Rent Program and recommending changes as appropriate. This annual report provides data and information on Program activities for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-18, including progress in meeting goals and activities established in the prior FY.
BACKGROUND
In 2014, the City of Alameda initiated a study of the local rental market in order to determine how renters were being impacted by rising rents, low vacancy rates and "no cause" evictions and to assess what types of tenant protections were needed to ameliorate these conditions.
This study and the associated recommendations for additional tenant protections were presented to the City Council at its November 4, 2015 meeting. Based on this information, the City Council adopted an urgency ordinance which imposed a moratorium on residential rent increases at or above 8% for multi-family rental units built prior to February 1, 1995, and on evictions from all residential rental units, with the exception of "just cause" evictions. This moratorium was then extended until the Rent Review, Rent Stabilization and Limitations on Evictions Ordinance (Ordinance 3148, "the Ordinance") became effective on March 31, 2016.
The Ordinance provides a hearing process for rent increase-related disputes, imposes substantial limitations on "no cause" evictions, and requires landlords to pay relocation fees for "no cause" and "no fault" evictions.
The Ordinance stipulates that an Annual Report will be provided to the City Council assessing the effectiveness of the program and recommending changes as appropriate.
Staff is hereby submitti...
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