State-Wide Rent Control with Just Cause Eviction Starts in 2020

When Governor Newsom signs Assembly Bill 1482, sponsored by Assemblyman David Chiu (who has a mixed record for tenants), it may affect residential units that are not covered by the San Francisco Rent Ordinance. Rent increases and evictions with just cause start January 1, 2020 with annual rent increases capped at 5 percent plus inflation or 10 percent, whichever is lower, for tenants who have occupied the unit for 12 months or more. The cap expires in 2030.

Rent control exceptions are:

1. Housing that has been issued a certificate of occupancy within the previous 15 years (to allow for sufficient profit for developers).
2. Some affordable or other rent-controlled housing.
3. Dormitories for a higher education institution.
4. A duplex in which the owner occupied one of the units as the owner’s principal place of residence at the beginning of the tenancy, so long as the owner continues in occupancy.
5. Some dwelling units which are separate from title to any other dwelling unit do not have rent increase protections.