Skip to main content Skip to site search
Berkeley Rent Board

Rent: Top bar

  • Housing Authority
  • Public Library
  • School District
Berkeley Rent Board

Rent: Main navigation

  • Services
    • About/Contact Us
    • Services During COVID-19
    • Housing Counseling
    • Mediation
    • Rent Adjustment Petitions
    • Community Outreach
    • Events
    • Rent Board Email Lists
    • Unit Information Lookup
  • Rights & Responsibilities
    • Rent Control 101
    • Rent Levels
    • Registration
    • Security Deposits
    • Evictions
    • Leases
    • Subletting & Replacing Roommates
    • Sale of Property
    • COVID-19: Information for Tenants & Landlords
  • Elected Rent Board
    • Elected Rent Board
    • Meet & Contact the Board
    • Rent Board Meetings
    • Rent Board Committees
    • News
    • Rent Board Budget
    • Commissioner Attendance Records
  • Laws & Regulations
    • Rent Ordinance & Rent Board Regulations
    • New Laws Affecting Rental Properties
    • City of Berkeley Ordinances Affecting Rental Properties
    • State Law
  • Forms & Reports
    • Forms
    • Petition Forms
    • Data & Reports
  • Resources
    • Tenant Resources
    • Landlord Resources
    • Habitability & Repairs
    • Fire Safety
    • Smoking Prohibition
    • Noise
  • Housing Authority
  • Public Library
  • School District

You are here

  • Home
  • Laws & Regulations
  • City of Berkeley Ordinances Affecting Rental Properties
  • Tenant Buyout Ordinance
Share Print

Tenant Buyout Ordinance

The Berkeley Tenant Buyout Ordinance adds tenant protections for buyout agreements. 

Overview 

Effective April 30, 2016, the City of Berkeley has enacted new rights and obligations to tenants and landlords entering into buyout agreements. Such agreements include any promise from a tenant to permanently vacate a controlled rental unit in Berkeley for compensation from the landlord. Under the Buyout Ordinance law, landlords must provide tenants with a written disclosure of tenants' rights. Landlords must use the disclosure form prepared by the Rent Board and must give it to tenants prior to making any buyout offer. Tenants have the right to rescind any buyout agreement at any time during the first 30 days after all parties sign. 

Mandatory Language 

Landlords must include in the agreement itself mandatory language regarding the right to rescind.  After the 30-day window to rescind has expired, the landlord must file the buyout agreement with the Rent Board no later than 60 days after all parties have signed. Failure to comply with any of the provisions above renders the agreement voidable at the option of the tenant at any time.

Record Retention 

While the Rent Board will maintain buyout agreements as public records available for review, the agreements will have personally identifying information kept confidential. Periodically, the Board will publish data regarding buyouts. These provisions do not apply to an agreement to settle a pending unlawful detainer case. 

 

Related Documents

Document
  • Tenant Buyout Agreement Requirements (85.18 KB)
Document
  • Tenant Buyout Agreement Disclosure Form (77.16 KB)
In this section
City of Berkeley Ordinances Affecting Rental Properties
  • Fair Chance Ordinance
  • Tenant Buyout Ordinance
  • Tenant Protection Ordinance
  • Tenant Screening and Application Fees
  • Lease-Breaking Fee Prohibition

News

Microphone in focus in the foreground with a blurred meeting in the background.

Notice of Public Hearing on Possible Increase of Registration Fees

Spines of folded newspapers lined up in a row with the word "news" written in black text on a white background in the center.

Berkeley Rent Board Supports Bill to Stop Skyrocketing Security Deposits

Hazy, grey-hued city street as seen through heavy rain.

Be Prepared as Heavy Storms Hit Berkeley!

A hand holding a pencil and pushing buttons on a black calculator that is sitting on a table top.

The 2022 Annual Security Deposit Interest Rate is 0.1%

More News
Rent Board Housing Counselor
Email: rent@cityofberkeley.info
Phone: (510) 981-7368 (RENT)

Related BMC

  • Municipal Code 13.79.050

WE’RE HERE TO HELP

Connect with us online, by phone, or in person.

Rent: Footer Top

Need Help (510) 981-7368 Visit
Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board
2125 Milvia Street., Berkeley, CA 94704

Rent: Footer Social

Rent: Footer Right

  • Sign Up for Our Email Lists
  • Get alerted about emergencies

Rent: Footer

  • Services
  • Counseling
  • Registration
  • RSB Meetings
  • Records Online
  • News
  • Events
  • Contact Us

Rent: Footer Bottom

  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Policy
  • Website Feedback
 

Translation Disclaimer

© 2023 Berkeley Rent Board All rights reserved.