document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 600 more apartments at Brooklyn Basin? 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. limited Bay Area eviction ban remains in place Without a lawsuit, this is not going to change, he told The Oaklandside. The lawsuit says the policies have caused harm and financial challenges for small property owners like plaintiff John Williams, who ended up in the hospital from the stress of losing the $1,500 monthly rental income from a tenant in his West Oakland duplex and the fear of facing foreclosure. endobj Alameda, CA 94501 They might say, No, thats not legal. 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. Housing | Landlords can again take tenants to court for failing to pay rent, although tenants with pending aid applications with the state can be protected through next month. In June 2021, the state set aside new money for rent relief. Alameda County 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. The Board of Supervisors has not discussed ending the Public Health Emergency Order and has not scheduled this discussion yet. The Alameda County Eviction Moratorium is expressly permitted by state legislation under section 1179.05 et. Landlord Policies and Practices / Legal Compliance, Cities HCD maintains and expands housing opportunities for low--and moderate--income persons and families in the county by: Alameda County and Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley are launching Renew Alameda County, a home improvement loan assistance program designed to allow low-income homeowners to remain safely in their homes by providing rehabilitation and accessibility improvement services and loan financing to cover the associated costs. stream Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. This means that tenants are expect to pay monthly rent on May 1, 2023. For their part, property owners say they plan to collect what theyre owed. Theyre not considered low-income and they didnt pay their rent during COVID, and that is a problem.. Some Oakland officials have talked about beginning to phase out the moratorium soon, likely in small steps. Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for Alameda Renters, City of Alameda Guaranteed Income Pilot Program, Business Associations & Improvement Areas, Notice to Contractors Special Provisions Proposal and Contract, Plans/Specs: Cyclic Sewer Replacement Project, Ph 16, No. Serving the needs of the homeless community as the lead agency in the countywide homeless collaborative and The CAA suit, filed in the U.S. District Court of Northern California, is brought by seven property owners in Alameda County, claiming the eviction moratorium is invalid, illegal, and unenforceable. It seeks an end to the moratorium and damages for the landlords. WebJudge allows Oakland eviction moratorium to stand, for now; Lena Tam Wins Board of Supervisor Election; The Homeless Problem in Alameda County is too big Eviction I think we are going to see a lot of displacement, and this is going to affect lower-income community members more than those with higher incomes, said Michelle Starratt, housing director for Alameda County. At 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, Alameda Countys eviction moratorium expired. A federal judge is expected to issue a decision soon about the legality of pandemic eviction bans meant to prevent homelessness. Gavin Newsom 1021 O Street, Suite 9000 Sacramento, CA 95814 Subject: Emergency Request Assist Alameda County Board of Supervisors Dear Gov. <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/Annots[ 24 0 R] /MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> 4 0 obj 300. It is also a colossal waste of resources by the corporate landlord lobby, said ACCE legal director Leah Simon-Weisberg. The Alameda County moratorium, enacted in March 2020, is one of the few surviving protections in the state. The eviction moratorium is set to end 60 days after the county's COVID-19 emergency health order expires but it's unclear when the Board of Supervisors might discuss ending the order. Its important to remember the original purpose of the COVID-19 Alameda County eviction moratorium, said Starratt: This was not a rent strike. Oakland and Alameda Countys eviction moratoriums are still in effect News about Californias eviction and rent relief programs has caused some confusion for local Dear Abby: I have a great life, so why have I fallen into this shameful behavior? What we saw was a rapid rise in evictions and displacement.. But nearly $5 million in funding is just a drop in the bucket if we have over $300 million worth of outstanding rent and half of that is for over-income tenants. The rest of California has modernized its tenant protections to reflect the societal progress that has been made. 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. 2022 For example, Rakesh and Tripti Jain have rented their three-bedroom home in Fremont as a source of extra income to pay for their childs college tuition. It essentially bans all evictions, either for nonpayment Alameda / Berkeley / Oakland. To learn more or apply, go to RenewAC.org, or contact Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley at (510) 803-3388 or [email protected]. Related Articles However, it doesnt mean that the states rental protections go away. The release takes effect as soon as the landlord receives the payment. Williams, the duplex owner, got emotional talking with The Oaklandside, recounting how his 10-year tenant hasnt paid rent since the beginning of the pandemic and owes him $50,000. Alameda County However, attorneys for the city and county said the state law permitted local jurisdictions to keep their stricter eviction moratoriums, so long as the policies were passed before the state law went into effect. Oakland to phase out eviction moratoriums in mid-July To learn more about your rights and apply for representation, contact them using. However, if a tenant violated their lease in another way, the landlord will be able to begin an eviction process.. Click here for resources for tenants and property owners: ac-housingsecure.org. 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. Councilmembers Nikki Fortunato Bas and Dan Kalb, and City Attorney Barbara Parker, who sponsored the citys moratorium, argued it was OAKLAND, Calif. (CN) A fight against an eviction ban in the San Francisco Bay Area county of Alameda has stumbled, after a federal judge denied This program is funded by the voter-approved Measure A1 Affordable Housing Bond. Report Website Errors. City Hall Address Housing | 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. Q: Are there new limits on evictions for nonpayment of rent, after October 1, 2021?A:Yes. Examples include increased health costs, added childcare or caring for a family member, or less work hours. Peninsula landlord charged with discriminating against family with young children However, the moratorium ordinance provided that it would remain in place until 60 days after the lapsing of Alameda Countys COVID-19 health emergency. Eviction moratorium Alameda County Oakland - Bornstein So, a tenant must resume regular rent payments beginning October 1, 2021. Tenants with lower income who have not paid their rent and who still have outstanding rent, even if they got some of it paid by rental assistance, need to come up with a payment plan with their landlord and identify some ways to start making payments, she said. 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. If you get a summons from the courthouse, you have five days to respond. As for Oakland, no changes, and its moratorium remains in place. December 2022 Ending the Alameda County Eviction Moratorium Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. The county is open for business in every other way, said Whitney Prout, staff attorney for the California Apartment Association (CAA). He's won national awards for his investigations and feature stories. Rents for this period are subject to the eviction protections described above. Alameda County Housing Secure has referrals to agencies that can help you mediate that type of agreement. 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. with homeless service providers. He also noted that his tenant sued him for harassment and won the case this week, in the amount of $65,000. Sign up to be contacted about future rental assistance programs. The landlords in the suit describe loss of income and financial hardships because they have been unable to displace their tenants. Housing is Key:https://housing.ca.gov/ Click here(PDF,239KB)to download a PDF of this FAQ. 02-22-05. by soddie | Sep 30, 2021 | Current News, News & Announcements. The local and state COVID-19 emergency rent assistance programs still have funds available, and renters and landlords are encouraged to apply. Thats after the emergency rental assistance funding that came from the federal and state governments brought over $220 million worth of back paid rent into the county, she said. Watch our website navigation videos and get the most out of caanet.org! This covers 100% of past rent owed on or after April 1, 2020. Alameda County Landlords sue Alameda County over eviction ban - The On March 31, 2022, AB 2179 was enacted, which extends by three more months the statewide eviction protection fortenants in Covid-related rent assistance programs. A successful challenge to the ban, she said, will allow us to go after the bad actors.. The budget also included $250,000 for legal aid organizations to prepare for implementation of the CARE Act. Newsom: In some of your most recent moves, youre doing a lot to help the homeless. The policy was designed to end 60 days after the expiration of Alamedas COVID health emergency, which ended on February 28th. Los Angeles Countys protections expired on March 31, 2023, and Alameda Countys are set to expire at the end of April 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 Natalie Orenstein covers housing and homelessness for The Oaklandside. Click here to learn. Expanding the supply of affordable housing for lower income renters and owners, including first-time The current law, set to expire Thursday, says a judge must pause an eviction proceeding if a rent relief application is pending. Tenants who can pay all the rent owed with the help of rental assistance now have more time to pay to avoid eviction. Alameda County Housing Secure is a collaborative of legal service providers partnering to prevent the displacement of our vital community members throughout Alameda County. Some local moratoria remained, but many of those have expired or are expiring soon. A statewide ban on evictions for non-payment of rent during the pandemic ended April 1. 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. endobj Senate Budget and Fiscal ReviewNancy Skinner, Chair They claim that tenants who are allowed to stay in their apartments without paying rent are effectively being permitted by the government to trespass. In addition to not paying rent thats due starting May 1, your landlord can also now attempt to evict you based on your behavior during the moratorium, says Starratt. Fifty-seven percent said they would pursue rent debt through small claims court. The suit also claims the tenants four German Shepherds, forbidden by the lease, have caused considerable damage to the unit. P.W. 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. Alameda County ended its moratorium on evictions Saturday, a policy it first put in place in March of 2020 in response to the pandemic. The landlords who filed the lawsuit have asked Beeler to rule in their favor without having to proceed to trial, through a process known as summary judgment. For example, The Oakland moratorium will continue to protect tenants for eviction due to nonpayment of rent, Starratt told KQED in an email. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your support is powering our newsroom! The way the moratorium is drafted, theres no end in sight.. 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. I Still Have Questions About The City's Laws For renters. I dont want to give tenants [in those cities] the impression that they are 100% safe, said Starratt. eviction 2 0 obj (The tenant cant be evicted for failing to pay a late fee.). The 60-day countdown to expiration began February 28 and expires as of April 29, Alameda County ended its moratorium on evictions Saturday, a policy it first put in place in March of 2020 in response to the pandemic. Alameda County 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. If you get a notice from your landlord, time is of the essence for you to respond, says Starratt. Alameda Countys eviction moratorium expired, What you need to know if youre an Alameda County renter, Alameda ended the countys public health emergency for COVID-19 on Feb. 28 (PDF), you should submit proof of your COVID-related loss of income. % In the meantime, we are deploying almost $5 million in emergency foreclosure prevention money to landlords, said Starratt. Across Alameda County, rental housing providers remain prohibited from evicting a tenant for practically any reason. Although Alameda County no longer has an eviction on moratoriums, some cities within the county like Oakland and Berkeley maintain separate eviction policies. Housing is Key includes information on eviction protections, applications for tenants and landlords to apply for rental relief, and foreclosure assistance for homeowners. WebSeptember 2022 Ending the Alameda County Eviction Moratorium Month: September 2022 The Homeless Problem in Alameda County is too big Eviction Moratorium Q: When must regular rent payments resume?A: Residential tenants need to resume their regular rent payments on October 1, 2021. 2263 Santa Clara Avenue Up-to-date information can be found on theEast Bay EDA website. French Bulldog Stolen From Car in Oakland, Steph Curry's 50-Point Game 7 Explosion Vs. Kings Lights Up NBA Twitter, Teachers Speak Out on Conditions at Oakland School, 1 Shot During Gunfight in Oakland: Police.