Alameda City Council provides relief to tenants

Published on April 10, 2020

April 10, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Sarah Henry, Public Information Officer
510-747-4714 

Alameda City Council provides relief to residential and commercial tenants in response to COVID-19 pandemic

On March 17, 2020, the Alameda City Council enacted a local state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the Alameda community has been resilient in their resolve to stay home and save lives.

But in addition to protecting the physical health of community members, we know that this pandemic has been devastating to many Alameda residents and businesses. People have lost their jobs, shut down their businesses, and are struggling to make ends meet.

The Alameda City Council has taken action to protect residential and commercial tenants from being evicted for non-payment of rent due to a substantial loss of income/revenue because of COVID-19. In addition, the Council has prohibited landlords from shutting off utilities except in case of an emergency or as part of an “essential activity” as defined in the Alameda County shelter in place order (and then, only the shortest time as possible to conduct the essential activity). These protections are in place as of March 1, 2020, and will remain in place for 30 days after the declared state of emergency is over. Both residential and commercial tenants will then have 180 days to catch up on any deferred rent that was not paid from March 1, 2020 to 30 days following the end of the local emergency declaration.

For residents, a substantial loss of income is defined as a reduction in income of 20 percent or more, due to loss of employment or a reduction in work hours, extraordinary medical costs, or extraordinary childcare needs.

For businesses, a substantial loss of revenue equates to a 20 percent reduction in revenues, for example, from paying employees to remain off work or reducing business operations to comply with the shelter in place order, or shutting a business down completely.

If you have questions regarding the City’s response to COVID-19, please visit www.alamedaca.gov/alerts. Thank you for your continued dedication to our island and our future.