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City of San Leandro <br />Meeting Date: October 6, 2014 <br />Staff Report <br />Agenda Section:File Number:14-398 CONSENT CALENDAR <br />Agenda Number:8.E. <br />TO:City Council <br />FROM:Chris Zapata <br />City Manager <br />BY:Cynthia Battenberg <br />Community Development Director <br />FINANCE REVIEW:Not Applicable <br />TITLE:Staff Report for a Resolution Approving the Annual Rent Review Program <br />Evaluation for July 2013 - June 2014 <br />SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS <br />The Rent Review Program is a useful resource for both landlords and tenants who seek <br />information, facilitation, and compromise on proposed rent increases. The program is utilized <br />by the community to provide a rent dispute forum for tenants and landlords and is applicable <br />to multi-family residential properties of three (3) units or more as well as mobile homes if a <br />tenant rents the mobile housing unit. <br />Staff recommends that the City Council review and approve the Annual Rent Review Program <br />Evaluation for July 2013 through June 2014. <br />BACKGROUND <br />Title IV, Chapter 32, Article 5, section 4-32-500 of the City’s Municipal Code requires that an <br />annual review of the Rent Review Program be prepared by the Rent Review Board (Board) for <br />the City Council. Since May 2001, the Rent Review Program has been an integral part of the <br />City’s comprehensive housing services. The Rent Review Program has proven to serve as a <br />helpful resource for landlords and tenants that seek information and resolution regarding <br />lawful and reasonable rent increases. <br />The Board consists of five (5) City Council-appointed positions. The Board composition <br />includes: two (2) tenants, one (1) resident landlord, one (1) non-resident landlord, and one (1) <br />homeowner representative. The resident landlord position was vacated in May 2013 and <br />remains unfilled despite outreach efforts this past year to fill it. <br />ECHO Housing is a full service and nonprofit housing counseling organization that provides <br />fair housing and tenant-landlord counseling services for the City. In FY 2013-14, due to the <br />elimination of redevelopment agencies which necessitated staff reductions, the City <br />Page 1 City of San Leandro Printed on 9/30/2014