Rent & Eviction Control Guide / Richmond
Highlights
Decrying rising rents and increased gentrification, Richmond voters passed the Richmond Fair Rent, Just Cause for Eviction, and Homeowner Protection Ordinance in 2016, making it at the time the first Bay Area city to approve rent control in 30 years.
The first riddle to solve is whether the ordinance covers the building at hand, and we'll have to compartmentalize between rent control and just cause protections.
FULLY COVERED RENTALS
Both Rent Control & Just Cause for Eviction apply
PARTIALLY COVERED RENTALS
Only Just Cause for Eviction applies
EXEMPT RENTALS
No Rent Control or Just Cause for Eviction
Richmond has delineated eight "just cause" reasons to evict you can find here. All termination notices must be filed with the Rent Program within 2 business days, along with a Proof of Service form.
Relocation payments
Like other locales, tenants displaced through no fault of their own (whether temporarily or permanently) are entitled to relocation payments, and these payouts are rather substantial.
More on relocation payments here →
Rent increases
Effective September 1, 2022, Richmond's Annual General Adjustment (AGA) taking into account inflationary pressures is 5.2%. The 2022 AGA may only be applied to tenancies in effect prior to September 1, 2021.
The city wants to be kept informed; within ten days of servicing a rent increase notice on a tenant, the landlord must file a notice of rent increase with the Rent Board.
Petitions
With the rising costs of doing business, we’ve noted that other cities have frowned upon passing on operating costs to other tenants, but Richmond takes a more balanced approach by allowing owners to absorb the costs of property taxes, capital improvements, and other increases in the housing services provided. We hasten to say that with due process and transparency in mind, the tenant can chime in when the landlord petitions the Richmond Rent Board.
Disgruntled tenants can also initiate petitions of their own to air out their grievances, including a Petition Rent Ceiling Downward Adjust and an Administrative Complaint.
Video: Richmond’s 8 just causes to evict »
Chart explaining which Richmond properties are subject to enrollment and tenancy registration »
Video: Properties covered by the Richmond Rent Ordinance »
Richmond Rent Program Brochure »