Changes to Berkeley’s Eviction Moratorium start on May 1, 2023.
At the March 21, 2023 City Council meeting, an ordinance was adopted to “transition” and then end the COVID-19 Emergency Response Ordinance, otherwise referred to as the Eviction Moratorium. The Transition Period, May 1, 2023 – August 31, 2023, will allow for property owners who own just one residential property in Berkeley to initiate Owner Move-In Evictions, and will allow for evictions to proceed for non-payment of rent after the “Covered Period” ends on April 30, 2023. During the Transition Period, tenants who are unable to pay some or all of the rent due in May, June, July, or August 2023 because of an impact related to COVID will still be protected from eviction if they submit a declaration to the housing provider. A tenant must provide the declaration before the expiration of any notice to terminate the tenancy (called a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit).
After August 31, 2023, a landlord may be able to use any unpaid rent that accrues during the Transition Period to initiate an eviction lawsuit.
Subject to available funding, the Eviction Defense Center (EDC) can assist Berkeley tenants with rent relief due to COVID-19 or other circumstances. Please contact the EDC at (510) 452-4541 and ask for Eric Magaña or Jose Morales.
For more information related to these changes and for a copy of the declaration form, please visit the Rent Board’s COVID-19 webpage.
Watch Mayor Jesse Arreguín’s message on updates to Berkeley’s Eviction Moratorium.
