City of Berkeley
Berkeley Rent Board
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Services During COVID-19

Information about Rent Board hours and in-person service availability during COVID-19.

Last updated: April 18, 2022

Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Our offices are CLOSED to the public on all Wednesdays. If you have an emergency associated with an eviction, please call the Eviction Defense Center at (510) 452-4541. If you have an emergency related to an unlivable condition in your rental unit, please call the Rental Housing Safety Program at (510) 981-5444 to request an inspection.

Not all services are available in person. Please check below for more information.

Counseling

Due to the ongoing public health crisis and limited staffing, all counseling will be provided remotely. There will be no in-person counseling until further notice. 

Current Services: Counselors will be available to answer calls on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (closed every Wednesday) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

You can call a counselor at (510) 981-7368 (RENT). You can also schedule an appointment (including Zoom video appointments), or email a housing counselor at rent@cityofberkeley.info.

 All email and voicemail messages should include:

  • Your name
  • Your property address
  • A brief description of your issue
  • If you’ve received a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit or other eviction notice (we will prioritize your call)

Due to limited staffing resources and high volume of contacts, please allow up to five (5) business days for a response.  

Registration

The Rent Board’s Registration Unit is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (closed every Wednesday). You can also reach the Registration Unit by phone at (510) 981-7368 Ext. 2, or by email at rent@cityofberkeley.info. 

Petitions & Mediations

We are accepting new petitions and mediation requests, which can be submitted by mail or email. All mediations and hearings are conducted remotely, with parties attending by phone or video through an internet-enabled device. Counselors can help parties with related paperwork and preparation, but cannot provide legal advice. 

Other Services

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