The Registration Fee Pass-Through and Pass-Through Reimbursement Are Ending

Background: registration fee pass-through for pre-1999 tenancies, and the pass-through reimbursement program

For many years the Board has allowed landlords to pass-through a portion of the registration fee to tenants in fully covered units if the tenant household has occupied the unit since before 1999. Certain low-income tenants could apply to the Rent Board for reimbursement of this pass-through. Funding for reimbursements is almost gone and there is no alternative source of funding.

The Board did NOT authorize landlords to pass-through a portion of FY 2025-26 registration fees

At its March 20, 2025 Regular Meeting, the Rent Board set the FY 2025-26 registration fee for fully covered units at $344 per unit but did NOT authorize landlords to pass-through a portion of this fee to pre-1999 tenants.

What does this mean for landlords?

Landlords with fully covered units occupied by a tenant whose tenancy began before 1999 cannot pass through any portion of the FY 25-26 registration fee to the tenant. 

Landlords who are taking the FY 2024-25 pass-through of $14 per month can continue to do so until the end of the pass-through period, which is either after 12 consecutive months or December 31, 2025, whichever comes sooner. 

 Landlords commonly begin the pass-though at the start of a new fiscal year or calendar year: 

• If you began the FY 2024-25 pass-through on July 1, 2024, the pass-through will end on June 30, 2025.
• If you began the FY 2024-25 pass-through on January 1, 2025, the pass-through will end on December 31, 2025. 

After your FY 2024-25 pass-through period ends, you cannot begin a new pass-through for the FY 2025-26 registration fee. 

What does this mean for tenants?

Landlords cannot take the pass-through for FY 2025-26

If you are a tenant in a fully covered unit whose tenancy began before 1999, your landlord cannot pass-through any part of the FY 2025-26 registration fee to you. If your landlord gives you a notice of rent increase that appears to include  a pass-through amount for the FY 2025-26 registration fee, please contact a rent board housing counselor:

• Make an appointment using our online form
• Call (981) 510-7368 (RENT)
• Email rent@berkeleyca.gov

Landlords can continue to take the FY 2024-25 pass-through

If your landlord is taking the FY 2024-25 registration fee pass-through of $14 per month, they can continue to do so until the pass-through period ends, which is either after 12 consecutive months or on December 31, 2025, whichever comes sooner.

Landlords commonly begin the pass-though at the start of a new fiscal year or calendar year: 

• If your landlord began the FY 24-25 pass-through on July 1, 2024, your rent will continue to include the $14 per month increase until June 30, 2025.
• If your landlord began the FY 24-25 pass-through on January 1, 2025, your rent will continue to include the $14 per month increase until December 31, 2025. 

After the current FY 24-25 pass-through period terminates, landlords cannot begin a new pass-through for the FY 2025-26 registration fee. 

The Rent Board cannot guarantee reimbursement of FY 2024-25 pass-throughs

If your landlord is taking the FY 2024-25 pass-through, and you believe you meet the income qualifications for reimbursement but have not yet made a request, please be aware that funds are extremely limited and the Rent Board cannot guarantee reimbursement for all requests.