How Does Rent Control
Work for Tenants in Richmond?
Rent control laws are designed to protect tenants from unreasonable rent increases while ensuring landlords receive a fair return on their investments. In Richmond, these protections are provided under the Richmond Fair Rent, Just Cause for Eviction, and Homeowner Protection Ordinance. If you’re a tenant in Richmond, here’s what you need to know about your rights and how rent control works for you.
Established in January 2017 by voter approval of Measure L (November 2016), this ordinance created the Richmond Rent Board to oversee rent adjustments and eviction standards. It applies to all “Controlled Rental Units”, defined as units located in buildings with two or more residential units that have a certificate of occupancy prior to February 1, 1995, with the following major exceptions:
- ● Hotels, motels, inns, tourist homes and boarding houses rented transiently (fewer than 14 consecutive days)
- ● Medical and institutional housing (hospitals, convalescent homes, dormitories)
- ● Government-owned or subsidized units (unless state or federal law requires inclusion)
- ● Units exempt under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (California Civil Code § 1954.52)
- ● Small second units built under Richmond’s accessory dwelling unit rules
Temporary tenancies and shared-kitchen/bath arrangements in single-family homes that are owner-occupied.
For complete definitions and exemptions, see the Richmond Fair Rent, Just Cause for Eviction, and Homeowner Protection Ordinance (Chapter 11.100).
Each year, the Rent Board publishes an Annual General Adjustment (AGA)—the maximum percentage rent may increase on a Controlled Rental Unit only without a hearing. By ordinance, the AGA is the lesser of 3% of current rent or 60% of the Bay Area Consumer Price Index.
Upcoming AGA notices are typically adopted each June for increases effective the following September.
Details and historic AGAs can be found on the Richmond Rent Increase page.
Before imposing the AGA:
Twelve months must have passed since the last rent increase.
The property must be registered with the Rent Program, and all rental housing fees paid.
There must be no outstanding Rent Program or health/safety code violations.
Tenants must receive proper written notice
If you believe your landlord has raised rent above the allowable AGA , you can file a Rent Adjustment Petition through the Rent Program. Please see the following website for more information. Rent Adjustment Petition
Not only Controlled Rental Units, but many Rental Units as well have Just Cause Eviction protections. This means landlords may only terminate tenancies for just-cause reasons, including, but not limited to, the following:
- ● Nonpayment of rent.
- ● Breach of lease.
- ● Nuisance or substantial damage.
- ● Failure to give access for repairs or showings.
- ● Owner or relative move-in.
- ● Substantial rehabilitation of the unit.
- ● Withdrawal of the unit from the rental market (Ellis Act).
No-fault evictions trigger relocation assistance under the Richmond Relocation Ordinance (Chapter 11.102)—tenants can claim statutory relocation fees. Retaliatory actions (threats, service reductions, improper notices) are expressly prohibited and may be challenged through the Rent Program or in court.
The following types of units are exemption from Just Cause Eviction Protections:
- A legally permitted second small unit on the same property as a single family home, where the landlord occupies the single family home as their primary residence.
- Temporary rentals by a landlord who principally occupies a single-family home, so long as the homeowner, in writing at the beginning of tenancy, provides the tenant a statement disclosing the length of the tenancy and their right under law to terminate the temporary tenancy without just cause.
- Owner-occupied unit where the tenant shares a bathroom or kitchen with the landlord.
If your landlord violates Richmond’s Fair Rent, Just Cause for Eviction, and Homeowner Protection Ordinance —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 Richmond’s Fair Rent, Just Cause for Eviction, and Homeowner Protection, 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 Asserting 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 Richmond.
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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