S14 21-0275 Subject: Amendments to Rent Ordinance and Rent Adjustment Program Regulations
From: Housing and Community Development Department
Recommendation: Adopt the Following Pieces of Legislation:
1) An Ordinance Amending The Rent Adjustment Ordinance (Oakland Municipal Code Chapter 8.22, Article I) To (1) Allow Owners To Petition For An Unlimited Rent Increase When A Tenant Does Not Reside In The Unit As Their Principal Residence; (2) Allow Subtenants To Petition To Contest Overcharges By Primary Tenants; And (3) Make Clean Up Changes; And
I oppose allowing owners to petition for an unlimited rent increase when a tenant does not reside in the unit as their principal residence. This will only encourage landlord harassment and an invasion of tenants' privacy. Oakland should not, especially now, be allowing more rental units to be bumped up to market rate. If this ordinance is targeting AirBnBs, it is unfair that there would be a burden placed on tenants with absolutely no repercussions to property owners who rent out their rent-controlled units as short-term rentals, especially since it is my understanding that most permanent AirBnBs are rented out by property owners, not by tenants.
I oppose allowing owners to petition for an unlimited rent increase when a tenant does not reside in the unit as their principal residence. This will only encourage landlord harassment and an invasion of tenants' privacy. Oakland should not, especially now, be allowing more rental units to be bumped up to market rate. If this ordinance is targeting AirBnBs, it is unfair that there would be a burden placed on tenants with absolutely no repercussions to property owners who rent out their rent-controlled units as short-term rentals, especially since it is my understanding that most permanent AirBnBs are rented out by property owners, not by tenants.