BPOA News & Commentary

This section houses newsletters and select articles—including President’s Messages and guest-written editorials—from BPOA’s archive dating back to 2008. Explore past issues to see how Berkeley’s rental housing landscape has evolved.

Free Resources Policy & Regulatory

January 2026 Issue
January 2026 Issue

Inside this issue: Berkeley Joins National Trend; Rents are Rising in SF – and Spreading; Is the 30% Rule Still Relevant?; Lawsuit Challenges New York's Rent Control Law; Los Angeles Limits Rent Hikes in Historic Vote; Landlording with Mark; Event Calendar; and more... Continue Reading

Postedby BPOA Master
Date posted01/1/2026


Reader’s Guide to BPOA's Online Newsletters
Reader’s Guide to BPOA's Online Newsletters

Learn how to use the Visual Paradigm viewer for BPOA’s online newsletter (and affiliate newsletters): start in full screen, navigate pages, zoom up to 500%, switch layouts, read in text mode, download or print as a PDF, and use search, annotations, and audio features. Continue Reading

Postedby Tiffany Van Buren
Date posted12/31/2025


December 2025 Issue
December 2025 Issue

Inside this issue: A Critical Case for Property Rights; California's 2026 Rental Reboot; L.A. Moves to Strengthen Rent Protections; Nov/Dec Political & Public Policy Update; Why Democrats Keep Flailing; Landlording with Mark; The Nuts & Bolts; and more... Continue Reading

Postedby BPOA Master
Date posted12/1/2025


2025 Newsletter Archive
2025 Newsletter Archive

All twelve issues in one place Continue Reading

Postedby BPOA Master
Date posted12/1/2025


Understanding San Francisco's Empty Homes Tax Appeal: How BPOA Members are Making Their Voices Heard
Understanding San Francisco's Empty Homes Tax Appeal: How BPOA Members are Making Their Voices Heard

San Francisco’s Empty Homes Tax is now before the Court of Appeal — and the ruling could reshape how Berkeley enforces its own vacant unit tax. Learn why BPOA filed an amicus brief and what’s at stake for property owners. Continue Reading

Postedby BPOA Master
Date posted11/17/2025


BPOA Amicus Brief: San Francisco Empty Homes Tax Appeal (2025)
BPOA Amicus Brief: San Francisco Empty Homes Tax Appeal (2025)

A complete copy of BPOA’s 2025 amicus curiae brief filed in the Court of Appeal in the San Francisco Empty Homes Tax case. Provided here in full for member reference. Continue Reading

Postedby BPOA Master
Date posted11/17/2025


VIDEO: The Current Climate of Rental Property Sales in Berkeley
VIDEO: The Current Climate of Rental Property Sales in Berkeley

Recorded October 30, 2025 — In this BPOA webinar, Joey Wang and Danny Winkler share insights on Berkeley’s rental-property sales market — from small 1–4 unit buildings to larger multifamily properties — and what owners should consider before selling. Continue Reading

Postedby BPOA Master
Date posted11/6/2025


November 2025 Issue
November 2025 Issue

Inside this issue: LA Takes Up Rent Control Reforms; What Is the Consumer Price Index?; 20-Story Tower Approved on Durant Ave; Everybody Gets a Fridge; October 2025 CalRHA Advocacy Update; Landlording with Mark; The Nuts & Bolts; Coalition Corner; and more... Continue Reading

Postedby BPOA Master
Date posted11/1/2025


Tenant Data Exposed in Berkeley Rent Registry Leak
Tenant Data Exposed in Berkeley Rent Registry Leak

A flaw in Berkeley’s Rent Registry exposed tenant names, contacts, and Section 8 status for months. The issue is now fixed, but tenants may still question why their data is being collected. Housing providers should be ready to explain the legal requirement. Continue Reading

Postedby BPOA Master
Date posted10/2/2025


October 2025 Issue
October 2025 Issue

In this month's issue: The President's Message; The Vacancy Plague That Wasn't; Landlord Suit Tossed by Federal Judge; SF Rentals Leasing at Twice the Pace of 2024; Coalition Corner; CalRHA Public Policy Update; Nuts & Bolts; Landlording with Mark; Coming Events, and more. Continue Reading

Postedby BPOA Master
Date posted10/1/2025


Take Action: Demand An Audit of the Rent Board
Take Action: Demand An Audit of the Rent Board

The Rent Board has never undergone an audit in its 45-year history. Fees are rising, services are declining, and accountability is overdue. Join us in urging the City Auditor to follow through—send your message today. Continue Reading

Postedby Dan Lieberman
Date posted09/1/2025


September 2025 Issue
September 2025 Issue

In this issue: AB 1620: Accessible Floor Units; Rent Control Has a Long Record of Ruin; CalRHA Public Policy Update; Application Fraud: In Search of Silver Bullets; The Eviction Showdown: Texas vs. California; Landlording with Mark; Nuts and Bolts; Coalition Corner, Editorials; Events Continue Reading

Postedby BPOA Master
Date posted08/28/2025