Bay Area

Oakland Landlords Allowed to Raise Rents Aug. 1

Starting on August 1, the amount that landlords can increase the rent for tenants living in rent-controlled units in Oakland will change. For most tenants living in these units, landlords cannot raise their rent more than 2.3%, a figure called the annual allowable rent increase, which is based off of calculating 60% of this years’ change in the consumer price index, or CPI. The city has long limited rent increases to 60% of CPI, and starting in 2022, Oakland passed an ordinance capping rent increases at 3% if the CPI increase exceeds that rate.

Published

1 year ago

August 17, 2024

Oakland Post

A rent controlled duplex located in West Oakland. Photographed on July 22 by Zack Haber.

By Zack Haber

Starting on August 1, the amount that landlords can increase the rent for tenants living in rent-controlled units in Oakland will change.

For most tenants living in these units, landlords cannot raise their rent more than 2.3%, a figure called the annual allowable rent increase, which is based off of calculating 60% of this years’ change in the consumer price index, or CPI.

The city has long limited rent increases to 60% of CPI, and starting in 2022, Oakland passed an ordinance capping rent increases at 3% if the CPI increase exceeds that rate.

Landlords can’t raise rent more than once a year, and they need to inform tenants in writing 30 days prior to any increase going into effect. The current 2.3% annual allowable rent increase will be in effect until Aug 1, 2025.

In Oakland, rent control applies to most tenants living in units built before 1983, but excludes those living in all condos and almost all single-family homes, regardless of when those units were built.

Most renters who don’t live in a rent-controlled units have their rent increases limited by a separate state law, which allows a higher increase: 5% plus CPI, or 10%, whichever is less. That limitation, however, doesn’t apply to certain types of housing units, including those built within the last 15 years.

Under certain circumstances, some landlords with tenants living in rent-controlled units will be able to raise the rent higher than 2.3% as well. In each of these circumstances, the landlord must inform their tenant why the rent increase exceeds the annual allowable rent increase.

The most common way an Oakland tenant living in a rent-controlled unit could legally be charged more than the 2.3% limit is through ‘banking.’ In this case, ‘banking’ is a process where a landlord who didn’t raise a tenants’ rent to a maximum allowable amount in one or more of the previous 10 years can bank that increase and apply it to the present year. Essentially, a landlord can calculate how much a tenant’s rent would be if they had charged the maximum allowable increase during those years and apply that increase to the current year.

The new banked increase, however, has a further limitation: it can’t exceed three times the amount of the current years’ annual allowable rent increase. That means that this year, no landlord can raise a tenants’ rent more than 6.9% through banking.

Calculating what is legally allowed in a banked rent increase can involve some complicated math. But the city has provided a list of previous years’ maximum allowable rent increases, a banking rent increase calculator, and instructions for its use on its website.

In addition to banking, there are few other ways an Oakland landlord can increase the rent higher than the annual allowable limit including capital improvement, increased housing service costs, uninsured repair costs, and fair return.

In each of these cases though, the landlord must file a petition with Oakland’s rent adjustment board and get the board’s approval for the increase. Before making any ruling, the board must also inform the tenant of their landlord’s petition and offer them an opportunity to challenge the increase.

A capital improvement increase could include some reimbursement for property improvements that benefit the tenant.

An uninsured repair increase could occur if the landlord can prove increased costs arose due to a disaster causing damage that they have to repair to comply with state or local law. A fair return increase could be applied if a landlord chooses to combine any of the previously mentioned increases.

If a landlord of a rent-controlled unit raises a tenants’ rent over annual allowable amount for any reason other than banking, they have to include the paperwork from Oakland’s rent board showing the board has allowed the increase.

Jackie Zaneri, tenant attorney and manager of California Center of Movement Legal Services, said that if a tenant got a rent increase that they aren’t sure is valid, they should check with an attorney and the rent board.

The city’s website lists out legal nonprofits that tenants can check in with for free about the validity of a rent increase. The list includes Bay Area Legal Aid, Central Legal de la Raza, and East Bay Community Law Center. Oakland’s rent board is available by phone Monday through Thursday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, and by email at RAP@oaklandca.gov.

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OP-ED: AB 1349 Puts Corporate Power Over Community

Since Ticketmaster and Live Nation merged in 2010, ticket prices have jumped more than 150 percent. Activities that once fit a family’s budget now take significant disposable income that most working families simply don’t have. The problem is compounded by a system that has tilted access toward the wealthy and white-collar workers. If you have a fancy credit card, you get “presale access,” and if you work in an office instead of a warehouse, you might be able to wait in an online queue to buy a ticket. Access now means privilege.

Published

1 week ago

January 9, 2026

Oakland Post

Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

By Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

As a pastor, I believe in the power that a sense of community can have on improving people’s lives. Live events are one of the few places where people from different backgrounds and ages can share the same space and experience – where construction workers sit next to lawyers at a concert, and teenagers enjoy a basketball game with their grandparents. Yet, over the past decade, I’ve witnessed these experiences – the concerts, games, and cultural events where we gather – become increasingly unaffordable, and it is a shame.

These moments of connection matter as they form part of the fabric that holds communities together. But that fabric is fraying because of Ticketmaster/Live Nation’s unchecked control over access to live events. Unfortunately, AB 1349 would only further entrench their corporate power over our spaces.

Power over live events is concentrated in a single corporate entity, and this regime operates without transparency or accountability – much like a dictator. Ticketmaster controls 80 percent of first-sale tickets and nearly a third of resale tickets, but they still want more. More power, more control for Ticketmaster means higher prices and less access for consumers. It’s the agenda they are pushing nationally, with the help of former Trump political operatives, who are quietly trying to undo the antitrust lawsuit launched against Ticketmaster/Live Nation under President Biden’s DOJ.

That’s why I’m deeply concerned about AB 1349 in its current form. Rather than reining in Ticketmaster’s power, the bill risks strengthening it, aligning with Trump. AB 1349 gives Ticketmaster the ability to control a consumer’s ticket forever by granting Ticketmaster’s regime new powers in state law to prevent consumers from reselling or giving away their tickets. It also creates new pathways for Ticketmaster to discriminate and retaliate against consumers who choose to shop around for the best service and fees on resale platforms that aren’t yet controlled by Ticketmaster. These provisions are anti-consumer and anti-democratic.

California has an opportunity to stand with consumers, to demand transparency, and to restore genuine competition in this industry. But that requires legislation developed with input from the community and faith leaders, not proposals backed by the very company causing the harm.

Will our laws reflect fairness, inclusion, and accountability? Or will we let corporate interests tighten their grip on spaces that should belong to everyone? I, for one, support the former and encourage the California Legislature to reject AB 1349 outright or amend it to remove any provisions that expand Ticketmaster’s control. I also urge community members to contact their representatives and advocate for accessible, inclusive live events for all Californians. Let’s work together to ensure these gathering spaces remain open and welcoming to everyone, regardless of income or background.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

January 2, 2026

Oakland Post

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Big God Ministry Gives Away Toys in Marin City

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Published

3 weeks ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

From top left: Pastor David Hall asking the children what they want to be when they grow up. Worship team Jake Monaghan, Ruby Friedman, and Keri Carpenter. Children lining up to receive their presents. Photos by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Big God Ministries, pastored by David Hall, gave toys to the children in Marin City on Monday, Dec. 15, on the lawn near the corner of Drake Avenue and Donahue Street.

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Around 75 parents and children were there to receive the presents, which consisted mainly of Gideon Bibles, Cat in the Hat pillows, Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, and Lego building sets.

A half dozen volunteers from the Big God Ministry, including Donnie Roary, helped to set up the tables for the toy giveaway. The worship music was sung by Ruby Friedman, Keri Carpenter, and Jake Monaghan, who also played the accordion.

Big God Ministries meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA Their phone number is (415) 797-2567.