Whether you're just getting started or brushing up on best practices, this section walks you through the key rules, risks, and responsibilities of being a rental housing provider in Berkeley.
If you're new to this, start here. If you're not, you’ll still find answers worth bookmarking.
Berkeley's 2026 annual security deposit interest rate is 0.6%. Learn about payment deadlines, penalties for late payments, and BPOA's new Annual Security Deposit Interest Calculator, which automatically applies the correct rate. Continue Reading
Berkeley's 2027 Annual General Adjustment is 2.5%. Learn which tenancies qualify, how to calculate lawful rent increases, use banked AGAs, complete the Rent Board's notice, and meet the requirements for a January 1 effective date. Continue Reading
Buying a Berkeley rental property with tenants already in place? Learn what to review before closing, including tenancy records, Rent Board files, security deposits, rental agreements, property status, required notices, and other obligations you may inherit. Continue Reading
Have a Berkeley rental unit that may be nonconforming or unpermitted? Learn how to research its history, understand conflicting City records, protect an existing tenancy, explore legalization options, and determine your next steps. Continue Reading
Prepare your Berkeley rental property for winter rains with practical tips for preventing water intrusion, addressing drainage concerns, and protecting your investment. Includes a downloadable maintenance checklist you can complete electronically or print and fill out by hand. Continue Reading
Understand Berkeley’s utility billing rules for fully-covered units, including shared meters, RUBS, individually metered utilities, and how the rules differ based on when the tenancy began. Continue Reading
Berkeley’s just-cause rules can be complicated—especially when a tenant has a fixed-term lease. Learn how coverage, at-fault and no-fault evictions, lease terms, and state law work together before you serve a termination notice. Continue Reading
When bedrooms are rented separately, can management enter shared interior spaces without notice? Learn how California’s landlord-entry rules apply to room-by-room rentals and what housing providers should consider before scheduling showings. Continue Reading
Learn what to ask before hiring a leasing agent, from fees and marketing to showings, applicant screening, Berkeley compliance, lease preparation, and move-in. Continue Reading
Berkeley’s Empty Homes Tax may apply when a residential unit is vacant more than 182 days in a calendar year. Learn who is affected, how vacancy is calculated, which exemptions and exclusion periods may apply, and what property owners should document to avoid an unexpected tax bill. Continue Reading
Understand when an Owner Move-In eviction may be used in Berkeley, who qualifies, tenant protections, relocation requirements, required filings, and the owner's ongoing obligations after the tenant moves out. Continue Reading
How to distinguish legitimate security deposit deductions from the ordinary cost of preparing your rental for the next tenant Continue Reading
