The City of Oakland has launched the Rent Registry, a secure online database that allows property owners and managers to register rental units as required by Oakland’s 2022 Rent Registry Ordinance. The Rent Registry can be accessed here: https://www.rentregistry.oaklandca.gov/.
Owners of rental units covered by the Rent Adjustment Ordinance and/or Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance are required to register their units (or claim them as exempt) by July 3, 2023. Most residential rental units in Oakland built more than 10 years ago are subject to the Rent Registry Ordinance. Properties covered include rented single-family homes, rented condominiums, rented accessory dwelling units (ADUs), rented vehicular residential facilities (motorhomes, trailers, or tiny homes on wheels) and rented units in multi-family properties (2+ units.)
On June 21, 2022, the City Council unanimously adopted the Rent Registry Ordinance, requiring rental property owners to report tenancy and rent data annually. The registry helps both tenants and owners better understand whether their rents are in compliance with Oakland’s Rent Adjustment Ordinance. Using the Rent Registry, property owners will more easily be able to calculate legal rent increases and tenants will be able to verify them.
Currently, the City of Oakland collects and maintains no data on individual rental units’ rents. Collection of this data through the new Rent Registry will provide a critical means of filling this immense knowledge gap, and will provide the means to make informed, data-driven policy decisions to address affordability, homelessness and displacement.
In May, the City mailed all Oakland property owners with properties subject to the Rent Registry ordinance a welcome letter including a unique parcel number and Personal Identification Number (PIN) required to access the Rent Registry. Property owners can also download registration forms from the program website or have the forms mailed to them.
Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department is offering daily live counseling sessions on Zoom for property owners who need assistance registering units.
These online sessions will be held:
Mondays: 10:30 am – Noon
Tuesdays: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Wednesdays: 10:30 am – Noon
Thursdays: 10:30 am – Noon
The City is also hosting an online workshop on Wednesday, June 7, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM. To register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rent-registry-workshop-how-to-register-tickets-615233589227
For more information visit: https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/rent-adjustment-program, email rentregistry@oaklandca.gov or call 510-238-3721.
Owners who do not register covered units by the July 3rd deadline will not be able to file petitions for or impose any rent increases, nor will they be able file responses to tenants’ petitions (e.g., petition contesting a rent increase). In addition, failure to register a unit is an allowable eviction defense.
About the Rent Adjustment Program: The mission of the Rent Adjustment Program is to promote community stability, healthy housing, and diversity for Oakland residents, while preventing illegal rent increases and evictions, and ensuring a fair return for property owners.
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