Albany advisory committee reviews rent‑review program; data show low use of mediation

At its June 4 meeting, the Albany Housing Advisory Committee reviewed the City of Albany's Rent Review Program, a city initiative established in 2018 to give tenants education, conciliation and mediation when a rent increase exceeds 5 percent in a 12-month period. Chris Hess, a consultant working on the city's housing element, presented program structure, utilization data and outreach findings.

The rent review program provides three services through ECHO Housing (Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity): education, conciliation (phone/Zoom outreach to each party) and in-person mediation with a professional mediator. "If it is over 5% in a year, including if there are multiple rent increases that cumulatively add up to 5%, then [ECHO Housing] will explain to the individual the rent review program," Hess said. Participation in the program is required, he said, but mediation outcomes are nonbinding: property owners may still implement an increase even after mediation.

Why this matters: Commissioners and public commenters said the program's low use of conciliation and mediation limits its value for tenant protection. Commissioners noted that many landlords are not registering units and that tenant awareness of the program is low, limiting access to the program's protections. The committee framed the program primarily as an education resource that needs stronger outreach and enforcement of existing notice requirements.

Program mechanics and funding ECHO Housing was…