Learn how some tenants in San José’s Rent Stabilization Program could see unexpected rent increases under proposed updates to the City’s rules.
Under proposed changes coming to San Jose’s City Council for consideration in December, some tenants in rent-stabilized apartments could see an unexpected rent increase. Since a unanimous Council decision in 2018, landlords of rent-stabilized apartments in San Jose have been banned from dividing the total cost of utilities in a building among tenants based on a formula instead of using individual meters. This tenant utility passthrough bears no relation to a household’s actual water use, and can lead to unpredictable variation in rents that may threaten housing stability, especially for low-income families and individuals.
Now Council will consider rent increase options that may include a one-time charge above the 5% increase already allowed by the Rent Stabilization Program, or a full ratio-based passthrough of utilities to tenants every month.
Join us to learn more about San José’s Rent Stabilization Program and possible updates to the City’s rules on how utilities are billed in rental housing.
We’ll break down:
What rent stabilization is and how it works
How passthroughs are applied
And what these proposed changes could mean for renters and housing providers
You’ll also learn how to share your feedback and get involved as the city considers these updates, and how they could impact you.