On Saturday, May 3, 2025, the East Bay Rental Housing Association (EBRHA) hosted its fourth annual EBRHA Next: Housing Innovation & Technology Conference at the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center. The event brought together rental housing providers, tech innovators, and policymakers for a day of education, networking, and exploration into the future of rental housing.
A Disruptive Start
The morning began with an unexpected disruption. A group of tenant advocates staged a protest outside the venue, temporarily blocking entrances and delaying registration for many attendees. While the demonstration was mostly peaceful, it reflected the heightened tensions surrounding housing policy in the Bay Area and underscored the importance of continued education and dialogue between stakeholders. Despite the rocky start, EBRHA staff and Lafayette police worked swiftly to ensure the event proceeded safely and on schedule.
Event Highlights
Once underway, EBRHA Next delivered a full day of compelling panels and discussions:
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Keynote Address: California Assembly Member Anamarie Avila Farias opened the conference with a powerful keynote on housing policy, legislation, and the intersection of innovation and equity in the rental housing space.
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Expert Panels: Sessions throughout the day featured a range of critical topics, including:
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Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) – Rental owners learned about the latest legislative updates on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) from Adapt Dwellings and how they present real rental housing opportunities to put more units in the market and utilize available land next to existing rental properties.
- Energy Conservation - Rental owners heard from experts at BayRen, StopWaste, and Green Water & Power about real-world challenges rental housing providers face—from navigating rebates and financial incentives to using energy upgrades as a tool to reduce vacancies.
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Insurance Trends – Understanding today's new market dynamics in property insurance is so important hen many rental property owners are receiving cancellation notices. Finding affordable coverage in today’s California insurance market is tougher than ever, but our attendees received great insight from the discussion with representatives from Kohly Insurance, Freeman Insurance Services , and US Bank.
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Property Management Tools – leveraging automation and digital platforms to streamline operations. Industry leaders at Greentree Property Management and TurboTenant shared practical tools and tech-driven strategies to help owners manage their property more efficiently and effectively.
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Credit Rent Reporting – Credit Rent Boost as they discussed new tools and trends that are reshaping how rental payments, credit building, and financial services intersect in today’s market.
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The panels fostered fantastic conversations and gave attendees actionable insights to adapt to the rapidly evolving rental housing landscape.
Community, Innovation, and Celebration
The conference also served as a vital networking opportunity, with local business owners, industry vendors and experts, and elected officials connecting with East Bay rental housing providers to share solutions and build community.
To cap off the day, EBRHA hosted a lively after party at Headlands Brewing Co. in Lafayette. Attendees relaxed with craft beers, music, and continued conversations in a more casual setting—cementing the collaborative spirit that defines EBRHA’s work in the East Bay.
EBRHA Next 2025 highlighted both the challenges and the opportunities facing the rental housing industry in today’s complex environment. With ongoing innovation, increased education, and open dialogue—even in the face of protest—the future of rental housing remains dynamic and full of possibility.
For updates on future EBRHA events, visit ebrha.com.