At its next meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3, the Alameda City Council will consider a revised rent control ordinance that will include several new provisions. The proposed changes will: 

• Add numerous definitions and clarify what units are exempt from the ordinance;
• Increase from one year to three years the length of time that an owner must reside in the unit following move in;
• Tie permanent relocation payments to fair-market rents;
• Eliminate trading extra time in the unit for a reduction in relocation payments;
• Require a relocation payment if a rent increase is more than 10 percent and the tenant decides to vacate rather than pay the increase;
• Permit buyout agreements; 
• Allow landlords to pass through 50 percent of the rent program fee without being included in the calculation of a rent increase; 
• Extend eviction protections to Section 8 voucher holders. 

The City Council will also consider a proposed fair-housing ordinance that would prohibit discrimination, including for source of income (including Section 8), age, disability and family status. The new ordinance would also prohibit tenant harassment and lockouts.  

To give the public an opportunity to review the recent and proposed policy changes to Alameda’s Rent Stabilization Program and the proposed ordinance, the city has scheduled a community meeting.

The meeting will address Alameda’s rent ordinance and upcoming fair housing and anti-discrimination laws at the Alameda Free Library Stafford Room, 1550 Oak St., on Thursday, Aug. 29, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

For more information, email the Rent Stabilization Program with questions at rrac@alamedahsg.org, visit www.alamedarentprogram.org or call 747-4346.