Title
WITHDRAWN - Recommendation to Review the Rent Review Advisory Committee (RRAC) Case regarding the Rent Increase at 434 Central Avenue, Apartment 111, and Issue a Non-Binding Decision. (Rent Stabilization 265) [Note: The landlord rescinded the rent increase.]
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Amy Wooldridge, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On February 4, 2019, the Rent Review Advisory Committee (RRAC) rendered a non-binding decision for a $0.00 (0.0%) rent increase at 434 Central Avenue, Apartment 111. Following the meeting, both the landlord and tenant requested that the City Council review the RRAC's decision.
BACKGROUND
The RRAC was formed in 1979 to review tenant complaints related to residential rental increases. At that time, there were no guidelines or regulations related to the type of unit, age of building, or amount of proposed increase for complaints to be filed with the RRAC. The RRAC, however, then as now, provides a neutral forum for renters and residential property owners to present their views, evaluate rent increases, and determine whether proposed increases are equitable, and, if not, attempt to mediate a resolution acceptable to all parties.
The RRAC is made up of five volunteers: two landlords, two tenants, and one homeowner. Members are Alameda residents appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. The duties, and to some extent the authority, of the RRAC changed when the City Council adopted the Rent Review, Rent Stabilization and Limitations on Evictions Ordinance No. 3148, effective March 31, 2016. Under this Ordinance, landlords requesting a rent increase above 5% are required to appear before the RRAC, irrespective as to the type of unit. In those cases, the RRAC renders binding decisions for multi-family units built prior to February 1995, with an option for those parties to petition the RRAC decision to a hearing officer, who would then issue a binding decision.
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