eviction notices

Good news for East Bay renters

by
Green Escrow | Rental

In a bit of good news for some East Bay renters, a federal judge has ruled that COVID-era protections against evictions in Alameda County can stay in place – at least, for now.

Alameda County – including the city of Oakland – are one of only two Bay Area counties that still have protections in place. Landlords sued to have the protections removed but the judge said the ordinances were temporary and didn’t exempt renters from the obligation to pay rent.

In Bay Area counties where the protection has been lifted with over 6,300 evictions being served between July 2021 and June 2022.

Rents are up but evictions are down

by
Green Escrow | Rental

The San Francisco Chroniclereports that even as rents continue to rise in California – 23 percent from 2011 to 2018 – evictions have dropped nearly 40 percent in the same time period. Closer to the Bay Area, rents in San Mateo County have increased 55 percent since 2010 but the number of eviction lawsuits dropped by 50 percent.

Eviction researchers are not sure why but point to a number of possible reasons. Renters who move out due to a rent increase or a “cash for keys” arrangement are not counted as evictions. Landlords often employ a “no-fault” notice that tenancy will end in two months. Moreover, many landlords avoid eviction notices due to the potential cost, particularly if the renter requests a jury trial which can cost from $10,000 to $15,000, with the potential that the landlord may lose the case.

Finally, landlords now do a much better job at screening applicants so the possibility of the need for an eviction notice is greatly decreased from the start.