San Leandro Rental Owners Meeting to Discuss Potential Rent Control

The East Bay Rental Housing Association (EBRHA) is inviting you to a virtual meeting this Thursday, April 24th at 10am in an effort to organize San Leandro rental owners and push back against the city's move towards rent control.

Please share this meeting invite with other rental property owners.

While these policies are framed by city staff as "protections," rental housing providers should pay close attention: what’s being proposed could drastically change the rental landscape, and not for the better.

What’s on the Table?

San Leandro is currently considering a slew of renter-focused policies under the guise of “ rent stabilization,” including:

• Rent Control Ordinance: This would cap annual rent increases, regardless of rising maintenance, insurance, or property tax costs.
• Just Cause Eviction: Landlords would be restricted from ending a tenancy unless they meet strict criteria—non-payment of rent, lease violations, or owner move-in.
• Anti-Harassment Ordinance: Broad definitions could expose rental housing providers to legal risk for standard enforcement of lease terms or attempts to recoup unpaid rent.
• Rent Registry: A city-run system tracking rent increases—adding a new administrative burden for owners while providing ammunition for tenant attorneys and housing activists.
• Expanded Rent Review Program: Already in place, this program flags rent increases over 7% or more than one raise per year for mediation—soon, it could evolve into something more restrictive.
• Relocation Assistance: Owners could be required to pay thousands of dollars in relocation fees for no-fault evictions, such as when selling a property or moving in a family member.

The Unintended Consequences

Rent control policies are sold as good intentions—but they rarely end well. Here's why San Leandro rental housing providers should be sounding the alarm:

Reduced Housing Supply Hurts Renters Long-Term

When rental income is capped and regulations multiply, many small rental owners choose to exit the market entirely. This reduces the housing supply, which ironically leads to higher rents citywide.

In nearby cities that adopted rent control—like Berkeley and Oakland—housing providers have sold off rental units or converted them to other uses, further squeezing the market.

Deferred Maintenance and Declining Property Conditions

When owners can’t raise rents to keep up with costs, corners get cut. Repairs are delayed. Upgrades are postponed. What was once a well-maintained home becomes just another aging unit. Rent control doesn’t lead to better housing—it leads to older, more neglected buildings.

Investment and Innovation Come to a Standstill

Investors and developers often avoid cities with aggressive rent control policies. That means fewer new units, fewer jobs, and fewer improvements to existing housing stock. San Leandro risks pushing away the very capital needed to build and maintain the housing that future residents will need.

Burdens Fall on Small Property Owners

Small local owners are the backbone of San Leandro’s rental housing by providing true affordable housing. However, rent control legislation will only in getting them squeezed out of the market. These are the same people who work hard to provide quality housing and maintain positive relationships with their renters. They deserve support, not punitive regulation.

Now is the time for rental housing providers to get involved. Speak up at the city council meetings. Join a local housing association like the East Bay Rental Housing Association (EBRHA). Support organizations that advocate for fair, balanced housing policy—ones that protect renters without punishing the very people providing homes.

San Leandro doesn’t need rent control—it needs real solutions. More housing. Better enforcement of existing laws. Incentives for owners to maintain and improve properties. Let’s not repeat the mistakes of other Bay Area cities. Let’s work together to keep San Leandro a place where housing providers can thrive—and where renters can find safe, stable, and affordable homes.