Small Property Owner Representation Services (SPORS)
ATTENTION RENTAL OWNERS
If you received a postcard or e-mail from EBRHA stating that your property is non-compliant, please contact us ASAP so that we can help you resolve this issue. Non-compliant rental owners cannot legally raise rent, serve notices, or file a petition with RAP.
The East Bay Rental Housing Association (EBRHA), in partnership with the City of Oakland, created the Small Property Owner Representation Services (SPORS) program to help small rental housing providers bring their properties up to compliance or navigate disputes with their renters through the City of Oakland’s Rent Adjustment Program (RAP).
What Do You Need Assistance With?
Reasons Why A Rental Property is Non-Compliant:
- Failure to register the property or rental units with the required local rent registry or housing programs.
- Outstanding business license taxes, rental housing fees, inspection fees, or other city-required payments that place the property out of compliance.
- Deferred maintenance issues or habitability concerns, including code violations related to health, safety, plumbing, electrical systems, balconies, or common areas.
- Lack of awareness or understanding of constantly changing local rental housing laws, notice requirements, inspection mandates, or compliance deadlines.
Reasons Why Mediation is So Important:
- Mediation helps resolve disputes faster and more cost-effectively than lengthy court proceedings, saving both rental housing providers and renters significant time, stress, and legal expenses.
- It encourages communication and problem-solving between parties, often preserving housing stability and professional relationships that might otherwise completely break down during litigation.
- Many rental housing disputes involve misunderstandings, payment plans, maintenance concerns, or communication failures that can often be resolved through structured conversation before escalating further.
- Mediation provides a more flexible and collaborative process, allowing both parties to reach customized agreements that courts may not be able to offer.
- By reducing the number of cases entering the court system, mediation can help alleviate overcrowded dockets and reduce delays in unlawful detainer and housing-related proceedings.
- Successful mediation can improve compliance, reduce future conflicts, and create better long-term outcomes for both housing providers and renters by focusing on practical solutions instead of punishment.
- Additional occupants in the unit
- Banked rent increases over 10% (future year)
- Capital improvement pass-throughs
- Fair-return petitions
- Increased housing service costs (parking, laundry, etc.)
- Renter not using the unit as a principal residence / subleasing issues
- Uninsured repair costs you seek to pass through as a rent increase
Apply to SPORS Today
Qualified applicants should ensure they comply with local laws and ordinances that govern rental properties in Oakland. The SPORS program assists small, lower-income rental housing providers with compliance issues, in pursuing an Oakland RAP claim, or in responding to a RAP claim filed against them by a renter.
MEDIATION AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES AVAILABLE
