If you The Oakland City Council made a late-night decision Tuesday toward ending the city's moratorium on evictions. COVID-19 protections and assistance for renters are being phased out across the state. neighborhood-serving facilities. During a public comment period, more than 100 people addressed the council, including tenants, who said the council decision favors landlords. If the moratorium phase-out is approved, it would also end a limit put on how much rent could be increased, starting in July 2024. Housing Providers of America was incorporated early this year by John Protopappas, a prominent local developer and CEO of Madison Park Financial, which owns numerous rental properties in Oakland and elsewhere. Dear Abby: I have a great life, so why have I fallen into this shameful behavior? | Eastmont Mall's history | OUSD union negotiations | We're now publishing free obituaries. There has not been clear data on the number of renters whove missed payments locally, making it hard to determine the overall financial impact of the moratorium on landlords. To do this, you need to give (or have given) your landlord a "financial distress" declaration within 15 days after you receive (or received) a notice to pay rent. Note that regardless of the dates and even if you provided your landlord with a financial distress declaration, tenants must still pay all unpaid rent by May 31, 2023. The 2022-23 budget included the $40 million base allocation for the EAF, as well as funding for specific uses, including $30 million for eviction protection and $15 million for consumer debt cases. Here's how it works, but keep in mind all unpaid rent between March 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021 must be repaid by May 31, 2023: Rents for March 2020 - August 2020: All overdue rent for these months can be converted to "consumer debt," meaning you still owe it, but you can't be evicted for non-payment. ALAMEDA COUNTY HOUSING SECURE The over-income tenants need to help us by paying their rent.. Madison Park came under fire earlier in the pandemic for issuing 150 eviction notices for non-payment while the moratorium was in place, though it was during a period of confusion around the requirements of the state law. As long as a tenant is still living in their apartment, they can contest or overturn an eviction by showing that they were approved for rental assistance and with the rental assistance and their own funds (if needed) can pay all of the rent owed. Attorney General Bonta provides the following information to help Californians understand the Also, noticesdemanding rent must contain a notice of tenant rights and how to apply for rent relief. Natalie Orenstein covers housing and homelessness for The Oaklandside. What an interesting case, Judge Laurel Beeler told lawyers Thursday morning, in a courtroom where about 20 property owners and tenant advocates observed quietly. eviction As of May 2022, the local emergency is still in place. stream <>/Metadata 267 0 R/ViewerPreferences 268 0 R>> Legal evictions may proceed starting on April 30, 2023 and tenants who do not pay rent from April 30th onward may be at risk of eviction. Shortly after the COVID-19 crisis got underway in March 2020, the Oakland City Council and Alameda County Board of Supervisors passed temporary eviction bans, prohibiting landlords from forcing renters to leave their homes, with some exceptions including if the renter threatens their neighbors safety. The In addition to not paying rent thats due starting May 1, your landlord can also now attempt to evict you based on your behavior during the moratorium, says Starratt. Tenants who can pay all the rent owed with the help of rental assistance now have more time to pay to avoid eviction. Starratt says that in an Alameda County community survey of landlords in fall 2022 and spring 2023, landlords reported that fully 50% of the rent thats owed is owed by tenants who are over-income meaning theyre higher than 80% of area median income. But when Alameda ended the countys public health emergency for COVID-19 on Feb. 28 (PDF), it also triggered the end of the moratorium. Alameda County's commercial eviction moratorium demonstrates the importance that landlords and tenants understand all applicable local eviction moratorium. Oakland and Alameda Countys eviction moratoriums are still in effect News about Californias eviction and rent relief programs has caused some confusion for local However, the moratorium ordinance provided that it would remain in place until 60 days after the lapsing of Alameda Countys COVID-19 health emergency. Thus, Alameda Countys pandemic-era eviction moratorium will remain in effect through April 29. Alameda County eviction To learn more about your rights and apply for representation, contact them using. Local Moratorium Expires 60 Days After the End of the Public Health Emergency Order, Alameda County Housing and Community Development, ALL IN Alameda County and Initiatives Have Transitioned into Alameda County Agencies, Alameda County Supervisor Dave Browns Biweekly Newsletter (October 11, 2022), Board of Supervisors Passes Resolution in Support of Reproductive Rights in Alameda County, Alameda County Supervisor Dave Browns Biweekly Newsletter (March 7, 2022), Alameda County Supervisor Dave Brownss Biweekly Newsletter (February 7, 2022). The state emergency rental assistance program, a $5.5 billion aid package to landlords and renters, stopped accepting new applications in March 31. This means that starting Sunday, April 30, tens of thousands of Alameda County residents must pay rent for the first time in three years. Each application is evaluated and prioritized based on those most at risk of homelessness, including small landlords. Were journalists for Oakland. WebSeptember 2022 Ending the Alameda County Eviction Moratorium Month: September 2022 The Homeless Problem in Alameda County is too big Eviction Moratorium I dont want to give tenants [in those cities] the impression that they are 100% safe, said Starratt. Alameda County ended its moratorium on evictions Saturday, a policy it first put in place in March of 2020 in response to the pandemic. Thus, All rights reserved. Thousands of tenants in Oakland and across Alameda County will be rendered homeless if it is ended. HCD maintains and expands housing opportunities for low--and moderate--income persons and families in the county by: Alameda County and Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley are launching Renew Alameda County, a home improvement loan assistance program designed to allow low-income homeowners to remain safely in their homes by providing rehabilitation and accessibility improvement services and loan financing to cover the associated costs. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Alameda / Berkeley / Oakland. Any further reproduction or communication of this material by you may be subject of copyright protection under the Act. partnering Although Californias eviction protections for tenants with pending rental assistance applications ended June 30, 2022; Alameda Countys stringent eviction moratorium remains in effect. Tenants were given until December 30, 2021 to pay rent that has not been paid. The current law, set to expire Thursday, says a judge must pause an eviction proceeding if a rent relief application is pending. If you get a notice from your landlord, time is of the essence for you to respond, says Starratt. Landlords sue Alameda County over eviction ban - The In Oakland, its landlords who are unhappy with a plan to end eviction ban Alameda County COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium Lawyers for Oakland and Alameda County warned the judge that a ruling accepting the landlords legal interpretation could have widespread and unintended consequences for other, unrelated housing laws. WebThe temporary moratorium imposes a ban on evictions for renters, homeowners and those living in mobile home parks throughout Alameda County beginning March 24, 2020 until 2263 Santa Clara Avenue Landlords argue in court to end Oakland and Alameda County Please contact Rico Fenix at the Alameda City Attorney's Office by phone at 510-747-4775 or by email atrfenix@alamedacityattorney.org. eviction moratorium Click here for resources for tenants and property owners: ac-housingsecure.org. The landlords allege that the eviction bans violate their Fifth Amendment rights by confiscating their property. Tenants with lower income who have not paid their rent and who still have outstanding rent, even if they got some of it paid by rental assistance, need to come up with a payment plan with their landlord and identify some ways to start making payments, she said. At 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, Alameda Countys eviction moratorium expired. Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for Alameda Renters, City of Alameda Guaranteed Income Pilot Program, Business Associations & Improvement Areas, Notice to Contractors Special Provisions Proposal and Contract, Plans/Specs: Cyclic Sewer Replacement Project, Ph 16, No. While additional funding may become available, the Program cannot guarantee Rental Assistance for households that applied after March 31, 2022. Alameda County Housing Secure advises that if you live in Oakland, Berkeley or San Leandro, to be safe, you should submit proof of your COVID-related loss of income or increase in expenses to your landlord in the form of pay stubs, bank statements, a letter from your employer, child care bills, or medical bills.. If you have more questions about conflicts in state and local law, please consult your own attorney. Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for Alameda Eviction Sign up to be contacted about future rental assistance programs. 2022 Serving the needs of the homeless community as the lead agency in the countywide homeless collaborative and The 60-day countdown to expiration began February 28 and expires as of April 29, 2023. This means that tenants are expect to pay monthly rent on May 1, 2023. However, the moratorium ordinance provided that it would remain in place until 60 days after the lapsing of Alameda Countys COVID-19 health emergency. California Apartment Association980 Ninth Street, Suite 1430Sacramento, CA 95814, toll free: 800-967-4222 fax: 877-999-7881 membership@caanet.org. Preserving the county's housing stock through rehabilitation and repair assistance programs. Some local moratoria remained, but If you are a tenant at risk of eviction or displacement, you may qualify for legal services under AC Housing Secure. The Jains received aid from the Fremont relief fund for 12 months of rent, but the tenant is still at least $58,000 behind. AC Housing Secure provides Alameda County residents with more information about the local eviction moratorium, rent and utilities relief resources for both tenants and landlords, and other housing assistance resources. In an attempt to relieve renters debts and ensure property owners get paid during the crisis, Oakland and Alameda County have doled out millions of dollars in state and federal rent relief money. Alameda County silences landlords, dismisses concerns over Alameda County's eviction moratorium ordinance, enacted to protect tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, ends 60 days after the end of the County health emergency. Q: What are residential landlords required to do if they want to collect overdue rent?A:Landlords must deliver to the tenant a required "Notice of Rights" before serving any pay-or-quit notice for rents due between March 2020 and September 2021. This story contains reporting from KQEDs Rachel Vasquez and Carly Severn. Eviction moratorium Alameda County Oakland - Bornstein Housing & Homelessness Landlords argue in court to end Oakland and Alameda County eviction moratoriums A federal judge is expected to issue a decision The suit marks the latest step toward dismantling COVID-19 protections for tenants, as health risks have diminished and many state and local programs and efforts have expired. Thank you. Some Oakland officials have talked about beginning to phase out the moratorium soon, likely in small steps. After the hearing, Protopappas said 20% of Madison Park tenants currently owe the corporation missed rent, compared to an average of under 1% before the pandemic. This means that starting Sunday, April 30, tens of thousands of Alameda County residents must pay rent for the first time in three years. The Alameda County moratorium, enacted in March 2020, is one of the few surviving protections in the state. The way the moratorium is drafted, theres no end in sight.. This also means that evictions for non-payment homebuyers. Most landlords are willing to help renters with genuine needs, but some tenants have been taking advantage of the ban. CAA helps members succeed by providing easy access to compliance information and forms, advocacy, and education. To learn more or apply, go to RenewAC.org, or contact Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley at (510) 803-3388 or HomeRepair@HabitatEBSC.org. seq. Until the Alameda County eviction moratorium expires, which is anticipated to be on April 29, 2023. However, we encourage tenants to regularly check the Alameda County Housing Secure website at ac-housingsecure.org for the most current information about the moratorium. Can I be evicted if I cant pay rent because of the COVID-19 pandemic?