What Tenants Should Know as Oakland’s Eviction Moratorium Ends

What Happens When the Oakland Eviction Moratorium Ends?

Oakland’s eviction moratorium ends on July 15, 2023. After that date, landlords can resume evicting tenants if they have just cause for the eviction. During the moratorium, landlords were barred from charging late fees for unpaid rent, but that will also end on July 15, and late fees will resume.

Tenants who could not pay rent between March 9, 2020, and July 14, 2023, due to financial hardship caused by COVID-19 cannot be evicted because of this unpaid rent. Landlords and property owners can still take tenants to court over unpaid rent from this period, but the debt cannot be used as just cause for eviction.

Other Changes to Oakland’s Eviction Protections

The new ordinance does more than end the eviction moratorium. Other important changes include:

• The city’s moratorium on rent increases will end on July 1, 2024. After that, property owners can resume petitioning for increases such as pass-through rent increases for capital improvements.
• To evict a tenant for violating the lease, the landlord must show that the terms of the lease are reasonable, and the tenant agreed to them in writing.
• Tenants who owe less than one month’s rent (at fair market rate) cannot be evicted for non-payment.
• Previous occupancy standards have been permanently updated. Under the previous law, occupancy was limited to two people in a studio, three people in a one-bedroom unit, four residents in a two-bedroom unit, and so on. Occupancy will now be determined by each unit's state and local building and fire codes.

Support and Legal Guidance are Critical for Oakland’s Renters

The eviction moratorium for Alameda County ended on April 30, 2023, and a survey of local landlords found that 67% planned to pursue an eviction. Housing officials are expecting evictions to spike to around 250-350 per month throughout the county. While renters in Oakland are still protected from eviction for unpaid rent until July 15, they are now subject to eviction for other just causes.

The differences in the ordinances and their end dates can make it confusing for renters to understand their rights. Educating Oakland tenants on eviction protections will be critical over the coming months and likely years.

We Help Tenants Who are Harassed or Wrongfully Evicted

As the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, protections for renters in places like Oakland, San Francisco, and Berkeley will continue to change. But one unfortunate fact will stay the same - bad landlords will try to take advantage of tenants. Now more than ever, tenants who believe they’re being harassed or unlawfully forced out of their homes need to seek legal guidance.

Wolford Wayne represents tenants whose rights have been violated. We never work for landlords, only tenants, and we don’t charge a fee unless you win. If you are wrongfully evicted from your rental home, we can help you seek compensation. Call our office today to learn more.