What’s in Your Rent Board File—and Why You Should Get a Copy

If your rental unit is subject to Berkeley’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), either fully or partially, or if you've ever filed an amended registration statement, the Rent Stabilization Board (RSB) maintains a property file for your rental property address. This file serves as the city’s official record of your property’s registration history, petitions, correspondence, and rent data.

Understanding what’s in that file can help you stay compliant and avoid future disputes about what the Rent Board considers “on record” for your property.

What’s Inside

Your Rent Board property file may include:

• Annual registration forms and ownership updates.

• Notices of Apparent Lawful Rent Ceiling (ALRCs) or rent data summaries.

• Petitions and decisions involving your property (rent adjustments, tenant claims, or administrative hearings).

• Correspondence between the Rent Board, tenants, and prior owners.

• Historical rent data drawn from the Rent Tracking System (RTS).

This is the same file Rent Board staff will reference if a tenant files a petition or if ownership or registration questions arise — so it’s worth knowing what it contains.

When It’s Useful

Owners most often request their Rent Board file when they:

• Purchase or inherit a property with existing tenants and need to confirm its registration history.

• Receive a tenant inquiry or petition and want to review what the Rent Board already has on record.

• Suspect the Rent Board’s data may be incomplete or inaccurate, especially after ownership changes or major improvements.

• Need documentation to verify rent ceilings, petition outcomes, or compliance status before a sale or refinance.

In short, it’s a due diligence tool for anyone operating or acquiring a registered unit in Berkeley.

How to Request Your File

To obtain a copy, complete the Request for Duplication of Rent Board Records form (available in the Rental Housing Forms Library under the Other Important Forms and Information section) and submit it in person or by mail to:

City of Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board
2000 Center Street, Suite 400, Berkeley, CA 94704

• When completing the form:

  • Digital copies are free. The Rent Board will email you a PDF of your property file at no charge.

  • Printed copies cost $0.10 per page. Unfortunately, the form asks you to “circle” whether you want the entire file or a partial file and calculate the total, even though you won’t know the number of pages in advance. In practice, you can simply indicate “Entire File – electronic copy preferred.”

  • Payment is required only if you request a printed version.

  You’ll receive an email confirmation once your request is processed, and digital files are typically delivered within a few weeks.

The Bottom Line

Every property subject to Berkeley’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance has a corresponding Rent Board file. Reviewing yours periodically can help ensure the city’s records match your own. For any housing provider seeking to understand how the Rent Board views their property, this file is the ideal starting point.