11 18-1769 Subject: Business Tax Exemption For Small Landlords
From: President Pro Tempore Kalb And Councilmember Gallo
Recommendation: Adopt An Ordinance Amending The Oakland Municipal Code, Chapter 5.04, Section 5.04.420, To Fully Or Partially Exempt From The Business Tax On Residential Property Rentals Those Landlords With Personal Income Of 100 Percent Of Area Median Income Or Less Who Rent Out (1) Two Or Fewer Rooms From Their Single Family Home Of Personal Residence Or (2) A Unit From Their Owner-Occupied Two-Unit Parcel
I support this exemption and I’m encouraging council to make more exemptions possible for owners. There’s been too many regulations put on owners that provide housing for Oakland Residents. The regulations and increased taxes only causes owners to pull their units out of market and increases the housing crisis and homelessness. To solve the shortfall of housing regulations should be relaxed to allow building more ADU and other in law units not only for single family homes but multi units as well. Allowing middle class owners to open new housing will flood the city with more units for the low income as well as middle class and prevent homelessness.
CM Kalb's hurdles to Business Tax exemption rule out 80% of those benefiting from the CM Kaplan Amendments. Kalb has absolutely no precedent for his policy while Kaplan's mirrors what exists in all other Bay Area Cities. Finance staff find no precedent as requested by Kalb as none exists. Who benefits from Kalb's fake "exemptions"? The campaign donor wealthier constituents in elite areas not wanting any renters, low-income people, or POC in their area; large apartment owners vs. low-cost housing to keep their rents high; speculators wanting to gentrify by driving out families who have owned their homes for decades; and those running for election pretending they've "done something" for small landlords. The crisis exists now, people suffer now, homes are lost daily--ADUs cost the City nothing. Time to bring Oakland into the real world & start doing everything possible to encourage rentals and building of ADUs, not harassing those struggling to maintain a foothold in Oakland. .
For the last 30 years I have owned a triplex in Adams Point. I live in one unit and rent out the other 2. My tenant of 20 is moving out and as a result of the ordinance which was passed last year I am withholding putting this on the market. This law is punitive to small landlords and is having the reverse effect of what you want to accomplish. I can no longer take a chance on renting to someone with less than stellar credit. I can’t afford to have someone stay here for 20 years and I can only raise their rent 5% when all MY costs go up more than that. I have never been afraid of being a landlord in Oakland (even during the crack epidemic) until now. Small owner occupied landlords are being attacked. WHen the large groups like The Hanover Company (a company that even based in the Bay Area) is the one who are inflating the rental rates. $2999 for a studio apartment!!!
Please support the Rental Business Tax Amendments put forward by CM Rebecca Kaplan and our Community Coalition! We must make more affordable housing now and stop Oakland’s rampant homelessness and displacement of homeowners!"
I support this exemption and I’m encouraging council to make more exemptions possible for owners. There’s been too many regulations put on owners that provide housing for Oakland Residents. The regulations and increased taxes only causes owners to pull their units out of market and increases the housing crisis and homelessness. To solve the shortfall of housing regulations should be relaxed to allow building more ADU and other in law units not only for single family homes but multi units as well. Allowing middle class owners to open new housing will flood the city with more units for the low income as well as middle class and prevent homelessness.
CM Kalb's hurdles to Business Tax exemption rule out 80% of those benefiting from the CM Kaplan Amendments. Kalb has absolutely no precedent for his policy while Kaplan's mirrors what exists in all other Bay Area Cities. Finance staff find no precedent as requested by Kalb as none exists. Who benefits from Kalb's fake "exemptions"? The campaign donor wealthier constituents in elite areas not wanting any renters, low-income people, or POC in their area; large apartment owners vs. low-cost housing to keep their rents high; speculators wanting to gentrify by driving out families who have owned their homes for decades; and those running for election pretending they've "done something" for small landlords. The crisis exists now, people suffer now, homes are lost daily--ADUs cost the City nothing. Time to bring Oakland into the real world & start doing everything possible to encourage rentals and building of ADUs, not harassing those struggling to maintain a foothold in Oakland. .
For the last 30 years I have owned a triplex in Adams Point. I live in one unit and rent out the other 2. My tenant of 20 is moving out and as a result of the ordinance which was passed last year I am withholding putting this on the market. This law is punitive to small landlords and is having the reverse effect of what you want to accomplish. I can no longer take a chance on renting to someone with less than stellar credit. I can’t afford to have someone stay here for 20 years and I can only raise their rent 5% when all MY costs go up more than that. I have never been afraid of being a landlord in Oakland (even during the crack epidemic) until now. Small owner occupied landlords are being attacked. WHen the large groups like The Hanover Company (a company that even based in the Bay Area) is the one who are inflating the rental rates. $2999 for a studio apartment!!!
Please support the Rental Business Tax Amendments put forward by CM Rebecca Kaplan and our Community Coalition! We must make more affordable housing now and stop Oakland’s rampant homelessness and displacement of homeowners!"