How Does Rent Control
Work for Tenants in Antioch?
Rent control laws are designed to protect tenants from unreasonable rent increases while ensuring landlords receive a fair return on their properties. For Antioch tenants, these protections are provided under the Antioch Rent Stabilization Ordinance. If you’re a tenant in Antioch, here’s what you need to know about your rights and how rent control works for you.
Under the Antioch Rent Stabilization Ordinance, rent caps apply to most rental units built before February 1, 1995. However, certain types of properties are exempt from these regulations, including, but not limited to, the following:
- ● Single-family homes and condominiums.
- ● Government-owned or subsidized housing.
- ● Mobile homes and boarding houses rented to transient guests.
- ● College dormitories and some senior or assisted housing facilities.
For a detailed list of exemptions, you can consult Antioch Municipal Code Section § 11-3.08.
For full details on the city’s rent control laws, visit the City of Antioch Municipal Code Rent Ordinance page.
For covered rental units, landlords can only increase rent by the lesser of 3% or 60% of the annual percent change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward area. Rent increases are limited to once per year (§ 11-3.04). The current permissible rent increase, effective for rent increases from 5/13/25 to 07/15/25, is 0.78%
Importantly, landlords are prohibited from raising rent if they:
- Have not properly registered the rental unit with the city.
- Fail to maintain the property in compliance with health and safety codes (§ 11-3.09).
If your landlord issues a rent increase notice, it must include specific details about your rights, including your ability to file a complaint or respond to a “fair return” petition filed by the landlord (§ 11-3.10). Notices missing this information are void.
Tenants who believe their landlord has charged rent above the ordinance limit can file a rent reduction petition (§ 11-3.06). Here’s how it works:
- ● Provide the city with proof like lease agreements, dates of rent increases, and amounts.
- ● The landlord will be notified and be able to respond.
- ● Tenants must demonstrate why they deserve a rent reduction.
If successful, you may reclaim overpaid rent.
The Antioch Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance adds critical protections for tenants. Landlords are prohibited from retaliating against tenants who exercise their rights under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (§ 11-4.01). Retaliation can include actions like:
- ● Threatening eviction.
- ● Reducing services.
- ● Attempting illegal rent increases.
If you face harassment or retaliation, you may have grounds to sue your landlord for damages (§ 11-5.07).
If your landlord violates Antioch’s rent control or eviction protection laws—or engages in certain types of harassment or unlawful behavior—you may be entitled to the following legal remedies:
- ● Treble Damages: Under California Civil Code § 1940.2 (for covered tenants), tenants can recover up to three times actual damages if the landlord’s conduct is willful, such as harassment, illegal eviction attempts, or utility shutoffs. Local city ordinances may permit greater or lesser damages, for covered tenants.
- ● Compensatory Damages: This includes financial losses (e.g., rent overcharges, relocation expenses) and emotional distress, especially in cases involving harassment, unsafe living conditions, or sudden displacement.
- ● Attorney’s Fees: Tenants who prevail in court may be awarded their legal fees, making it easier to pursue justice.
- ● Injunctive Relief: Courts can order landlords to stop unlawful actions and comply with local housing protections.
These remedies are designed to protect renters and hold landlords accountable for violating tenant rights.
If your unit does not qualify under the Antioch Rent Stabilization Ordinance, you may be covered by the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019, which caps rent increases at 5% plus CPI or 10%, whichever is less, and provides just cause eviction protections for certain properties.
Learn more about your rights by visiting our California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 guide.
Need Help Navigating Your Rights?
If you’re facing a rent increase, illegal eviction, landlord harassment, or other landlord-tenant issues, Tenant Law Group is ready to support you. As California’s leading tenant rights law firm, we specialize in defending renters and ensuring their rights are upheld. Protect your housing rights with expert guidance. Contact us today for a free case evaluation to learn more about your tenant rights in Antioch.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant laws in California and is not intended as legal advice. We encourage you to consult with a qualified tenant attorney or local tenant advocacy organization for guidance specific to your situation.
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