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Compliance & Regulations

Stay up to date on required filings, deadlines, and legal obligations for rental housing providers under local ordinances, California law, and federal regulations. This category includes Rent Board registration rules, annual fee notices, security deposit interest, new legislation, and compliance with laws like the ADA and Fair Housing Act.

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Costa Hawkins & Certificate of Occupancy for New Construction
Costa Hawkins & Certificate of Occupancy for New Construction

The Costa-Hawkins Act of 1996 is a critical law governing a local jurisdiction's power to enact rent control on certain rental units. It was originally written to exempt newly constructed units in an effort to encourage new construction and exempted any unit built after the inception of... Continue Reading

Postedby Krista C. Gulbransen
Date posted12/5/2024
How to Properly Serve Notices for Rent Increases and Entry in California
How to Properly Serve Notices for Rent Increases and Entry in California

California’s guidelines for rent increases and entry notices. Continue Reading

Postedby Tiffany Van Buren
Date posted11/14/2024
2024 Annual Security Deposit Interest Alert
2024 Annual Security Deposit Interest Alert

Annual security deposit interest requirements Continue Reading

Postedby BPOA Master
Date posted11/2/2024
The 2025 Annual General Adjustment for Rent Controlled Units
The 2025 Annual General Adjustment for Rent Controlled Units

Important updates for Berkeley rental property owners regarding the Annual General Adjustment (AGA) for 2025 and the requirements for serving proper notice of a rent increase. Continue Reading

Postedby BPOA Master
Date posted11/2/2024
The 2025 AGA: What It Means For Berkeley Rental Housing Providers
The 2025 AGA: What It Means For Berkeley Rental Housing Providers

Navigating the 2025 Annual General Adjustment in a complex rental market. Continue Reading

Postedby Tiffany Van Buren
Date posted11/1/2024
Know Your Rights: A Berkeley Rental Housing Provider's Guide to Legal Access of Rental Units
Know Your Rights: A Berkeley Rental Housing Provider's Guide to Legal Access of Rental Units

Learn the legal grounds for entering a rental unit, the proper procedure for giving notice, what constitutes tenant harassment, and strategies for handling tenants who interfere with your right to access. Continue Reading

Postedby Tiffany Van Buren
Date posted09/1/2024
Streamline Your Document Management: Retention Duration Requirements, Digitization, and Storage
Streamline Your Document Management: Retention Duration Requirements, Digitization, and Storage

Confused about how long to retain rental applications, leases and other documents pertaining to your rental property? Burdened by heavy boxes and file cabinets full of paper documents? This article provides retention mandate guidance and offers digitization and storage options to enhance efficiency. Continue Reading

Postedby Tiffany Van Buren
Date posted08/1/2024
The Rental Housing Safety Program - Are you in Compliance?
The Rental Housing Safety Program - Are you in Compliance?

A crucial aspect of property management in Berkeley, the Rental Housing Safety Program, mandates that all rental units regardless of their size are inspected annually to ensure compliance with a list of minimum safety standards. This article provides some tips and guidance. Continue Reading

Postedby Tiffany Van Buren
Date posted05/1/2024
Recorded Webinar - What to Expect during a Housing Inspection
Recorded Webinar - What to Expect during a Housing Inspection

A playback recording of our March 28, 2024 webinar presented by Berkeley's Rental Housing Safety Program team. Continue Reading

Postedby Jenny McNulty
Date posted04/4/2024
Berkeley’s Empty Homes Tax: What Rental Property Owners Need to Know
Berkeley’s Empty Homes Tax: What Rental Property Owners Need to Know

Berkeley’s Empty Homes Tax applies to rental units vacant over 182 days a year. Avoid a $6,000–$12,000 per-unit tax by understanding what counts as “vacant” and how to claim exemptions. Continue Reading

Postedby BPOA Master
Date posted01/1/2024
Can I Reject an Applicant with an ESA if I Have a No-Pets Policy?
Can I Reject an Applicant with an ESA if I Have a No-Pets Policy?

Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are not considered pets. Rental housing providers cannot deny an applicant who requires an ESA based on a no-pets policy. Read on to learn more! Continue Reading

Postedby Tiffany Van Buren
Date posted05/15/2023
Berkeley Ban on Natural Gas Struck Down
Berkeley Ban on Natural Gas Struck Down

An April 2023 ruling by a federal appeals court said Berkeley's ban on natural gas was illegal Continue Reading

Postedby BPOA Master
Date posted04/17/2023