Eviction moratorium Alameda County Oakland - Bornstein 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. The rest of California has modernized its tenant protections to reflect the societal progress that has been made. WebAlameda 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. Alameda County 2023 All Rights Reserved Legal / Disclaimers Accessibility, Neighborhood Preservation & Sustainability, 2023 Annual Action Draft for Public Comment. Alameda County silences landlords, dismisses concerns over WebThe Alameda County eviction moratorium ended on April 29, 2023, but you may still have important protections from eviction. For more information on the Alameda County Eviction Moratorium, please visit theAlameda County Housing and Community Developmenthome page. <> Tenants and homeowners have received legal services through ACHS, Centro Legal de la Raza: (510) 437-1554, tenantsrights@centrolegal.org, East Bay Community Law Center: (510) 548-4040, ext. WebJudge allows Oakland eviction moratorium to stand, for now; Lena Tam Wins Board of Supervisor Election; The Homeless Problem in Alameda County is too big Eviction 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. If you value what you get from The Oaklandside, please join us with a tax-deductible donation today so we can continue doing the local reporting that matters to you. Up-to-date information can be found on theEast Bay EDA website. 1 Comment / Uncategorized / By FreshFir222 LA County Board of Supervisors vote to end Eviction Moratorium Leave a Comment / Uncategorized / By Q: Canthe landlord increase the rent?A:Rent levels for all controlled units (generally, all multi-family units built before February 1995) have been frozen during the emergency. But Nicholas Spear, a lawyer with the tenant advocacy group ACCE, which is also participating in the lawsuit, told the judge that there would be just as many declarations and stories from tenants whove experienced housing and financial hardships during the pandemic, if theyd gotten a chance to share them. Learn more. Alameda County Q: When must regular rent payments resume?A: Residential tenants need to resume their regular rent payments on October 1, 2021. Housing | I think we are going to see a lot of displacement, and this is going to affect lower-income community members more than those with higher incomes, said Michelle Starratt, housing director for Alameda County. Housing | We amplify community voices, share information resources, and investigate systems, not just symptoms. New tenants moved into the house in January 2020, and have yet to pay rent, the suit said. P.W. by soddie | Sep 30, 2021 | Current News, News & Announcements. Alameda County Housing Secure is a collaborative of legal service providers partnering to prevent the displacement of our vital community members throughout Alameda County. He also noted that his tenant sued him for harassment and won the case this week, in the amount of $65,000. Alameda County ended its moratorium on evictions Saturday, a policy it first put in place in March of 2020 in response to the pandemic. 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. The 60-day countdown to expiration began February 28 and expires as of April 29, 2023. The current law, set to expire Thursday, says a judge must pause an eviction proceeding if a rent relief application is pending. The Oaklandside relies on reader support to remain free for everyone in our community. Alameda County ended its moratorium on evictions Saturday, a policy it first put in place in March of 2020 in response to the pandemic. The Alameda County eviction moratorium ended on April 29, 2023, but you may still have important protections from eviction. PW 05-19-26, RFP: Chuck Corica Golf Course Parking Lot Improvements, Preparation of Eng Docs for Upgrade of Sewer Pump Stations, Group 5, RFP for FY 2020 Sign & Striping Maintenance, PW No. Thank you for supporting The Oaklandside and being a part of our community. Its important to remember the original purpose of the COVID-19 Alameda County eviction moratorium, said Starratt: This was not a rent strike. The dashboard below gives a snapshot of the programs progress to date. Tenants are therefore encouraged to learn more about and apply for rental assistance (see information below). For months, property owners have railed against the moratorium and accused tenants of taking advantage of the moratorium to case paying rent for reasons unrelated to COVID. OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland City Council early Wednesday morning made a decision toward ending the city's moratorium on evictions. However, the moratorium ordinance provided that it would remain in place until 60 days after the lapsing of Alameda Countys COVID-19 health emergency. What an interesting case, Judge Laurel Beeler told lawyers Thursday morning, in a courtroom where about 20 property owners and tenant advocates observed quietly. The release takes effect as soon as the landlord receives the payment. Sign up for The Oaklandsides free daily newsletter. It also helps your family, friends and Oakland neighbors have access to reliable, independent reporting. The federal eviction moratorium was in place until August 2021, and the states eviction protections ended in June 2022. Even though her boyfriend lost income during the pandemic, Garcias household has been able to make rent payments, she said. After the hearing, Andrew Zacks, a lawyer for the landlords, said he didnt believe policymakers would act to repeal the bans after two and a half years. 3 0 obj The The local and state COVID-19 emergency rent assistance programs still have funds available, and renters and landlords are encouraged to apply. Some Oakland officials have talked about beginning to phase out the moratorium soon, likely in small steps. 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. % Now, Alameda County housing officials are expecting evictions to spike to above pre-pandemic levels, to some 250350 evictions per month as landlords look to recoup back rent and evict tenants if they are unable to pay going forward. stream 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. Alameda County Eviction Moratorium is Still in Effect How renters will be protected when Oaklands eviction ban ends in July Eviction moratorium Alameda County Legal Q & A May 2023 By Richard Beckman, Esq. - AOAUSA It wont matter if the [Alameda County] eviction moratorium protected you you wont be able to use that as a reason to defend against an eviction notice.. Landlord Policies and Practices / Legal Compliance, Cities 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? If a tenant does not pay the minimum 25% of rent that is due by September 30, 2021, the tenant may be protected from eviction for the past due rent if they apply for rental assistance. If you A second and final city council vote is still needed, and that's expected on May 2. California apartment vacancies near 2-year high as rents slip 3.5% from peak On March 31, 2022, AB 2179 was enacted, which extends by three more months the statewide eviction protection fortenants in Covid-related rent assistance programs. Keep reading for what to know about the end of the eviction moratorium in Alameda County. This means that starting Sunday, April 30, tens of thousands of If you didnt pay your rent and used that money on other items, you could be faced with a court assigning your wages to the landlord in order for the landlord to get their back rent, warned Starratt. For resources available to tenants and landlords in Alameda County, including free legal services for lower-income tenants and homeowners, visit Alameda County Housing Secure. Tenant group ACCE rallied outside the courthouse Thursday, opposing the attempt to undo the eviction moratoriums. During a public comment period, more than 100 people addressed the council, including tenants, who said the council decision favors landlords. Is there any end in sight, from a policy perspective? Beeler asked a county lawyer during the hearing. %PDF-1.7 In the meantime, we are deploying almost $5 million in emergency foreclosure prevention money to landlords, said Starratt. homebuyers. Alameda County Ends Its Eviction Moratorium NBC