Housing Counseling
Rent Board housing counselors can help answer questions about your rights and responsibilities. Current services information can be found below.
How Can a Housing Counselor Help You?
Housing counselors provide free information to tenants, landlords, realtors, and other parties about their rights and responsibilities as they relate to Berkeley’s Rent Stabilization and Eviction for Just Cause Ordinance. Counseling is non-advocacy and non-directive, meaning counselors do not take sides in disputes, argue a client’s case, or tell clients what choices to make. Instead, counselors provide information and options to empower clients to make their own choices. Housing counselors can also:
- Help you navigate Rent Board procedures for requesting mediations and filing petitions
- Make referrals to community-based legal organizations
- Help you access other city department services
Housing counselors cannot:
- Provide legal advice. Counselors can only make referrals to community-based organizations as needed.
- Provide technical assistance on forming or running tenant associations
- Provide an opinion on whether a petition claim will be granted or not
- Provide assistance for units located outside of the City of Berkeley, or advise on rights and responsibilities under rent control ordinances in other cities
How To Contact a Housing Counselor & Counselor Availability
Housing counselors are available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (closed every Wednesday) from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. You can contact a housing counselor in the following ways:
- Fill out our online appointment form. You can choose a virtual, phone, or in-person appointment.
- Email rent@berkeleyca.gov. Include your name, property address, and a brief description of your issue.
- Phone: (510) 981-7368 (RENT) Ext. 1. If you leave a voicemail, please include your name, property address, and a brief description of your issue.
*If you have received an eviction notice or unlawful detainer your service request will be prioritized*
