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2 <br /> <br />Existing Outreach Efforts <br />Staff has traditionally relied on the numerous marketing methods to advertise the Rent Review <br />Program to local tenants and landlords including: <br /> Press releases; <br /> Program flyers attached to the annual business license renewal letter sent to the <br />approximately 3,000 residential landlords; <br /> Notification of the landlord associations, specifically the Rental Housing Owners <br />Association of Southern Alameda County (RHO), of pending hearings and on-going <br />communication regarding the specifics of each case. RHO plays an active role in educating <br />its members and working with landlords to resolve cases. Staff also works with the East Bay <br />Rental Housing Association (EBHRA) whose members are medium to smaller apartment <br />owners; <br /> Direct communications, including phone calls, e-mails, walk-ins to City Hall with <br />tenants/landlords; and; <br /> Distribution of information at community events and festivals such as Farmers’ Markets and <br />the Cherry Festival as well as at City facilities such as City Hall, main library, Senior <br />Community Center and Marina Community Center. <br /> <br />All Rent Review Program-related documents are available on the City’s Housing Services Division’s <br />website. To affirmatively further federal fair housing requirements monitored by the U.S. <br />Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City housing programs key documents, such <br />as the Rent Review Ordinance, requirements regarding noticing, a Rent Review Board Hearing <br />application and general housing information are provided on the City’s website. Staff also regularly <br />distributes program materials to tenants and landlords who call, email, or come to the City’s One- <br />Stop Permit Center. <br /> <br />According to the 2011 American Community Survey, 27% of the City’s population is Limited <br />English Proficient (LEP) as English is not their primary language or they may speak English in <br />limited proficiency or, in some cases, not at all. The two most prominent non-English speaking <br />(LEP) population in the City are Spanish-speaking residents at 14% and Chinese-speaking residents <br />at 12%. Vital Rent Review Program-related documents, including the Rent Review Ordinance, the <br />“Required Notice” about the Rent Review Program, Program Summary, and Frequently Asked <br />Questions, have been translated into Spanish and Chinese. These documents are available by <br />request and are on the City’s Rent Review Program webpage. City staff is also able to provide <br />Spanish and/or Chinese translators to those who call, walk in at City Hall or request translation at <br />Rent Review Board meetings. <br /> <br />Noticing Requirements <br />The Ordinance requires that any rent increase must be accompanied by the required Rent Review <br />Program notice, which describes how a tenant may qualify to have their rent increase reviewed by <br />the Rent Review Board. The responsibility of notifying renters about the Ordinance ultimately rests <br />with the landlords. If this required notice is not provided with the rent increase notice, the rent <br />increase is considered null and void until the landlord properly re-notices. As confirmed by the City <br />Attorney’s Office, tenants could pursue a legal civil action on their own should their landlords refuse <br />to properly re-notice them or collect what is considered an illegal rent increase. <br />