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Board extends rental housing complaint program, directs proactive pilot for Ashland and Cherryland
Summary
After a two-year pilot handling tenant habitability complaints, Alameda County supervisors voted to continue the complaint-driven program, directed staff to develop a targeted proactive pilot for Ashland and Cherryland, and to study options for a rental registry and resource needs.
Alameda County supervisors voted May 8 to continue a complaint-based rental housing inspection program launched as a two-year pilot and directed staff to develop a targeted proactive pilot in Ashland and Cherryland.
Ed Labayag, Alameda County code enforcement manager, reported on the pilot’s operations from 2023–2024: the program received 248 cases (106 in 2023; 142 in 2024), of which staff categorized 86 as actionable cases that resulted in county notices and follow-up. Labayag said the pilot improved outreach and tenant confidence in filing habitability complaints, and estimated the two-year cost at about $170,500 and roughly 700 field hours plus administrative support. He recommended continuing the complaint-driven model while considering targeted proactive enforcement and a rental registry as longer-term options.
Supervisors questioned response times, documentation of retaliation and whether landlord/tenant disputes masked habitability issues. Labayag said staff aims to contact complainants within one to five days and referred harassment or eviction-related matters to legal aid and tenant-advocacy groups when appropriate. On documentation of retaliation, staff said it is difficult to prove and such cases are generally referred to legal services for tenants.
Public commenters included tenant advocates who urged expansion of proactive inspections to neighborhoods with high complaint volumes and housing providers who argued that existing measures and education may address many concerns. Tenant advocates emphasized fear of retaliation and low follow-through by tenants when asked to pursue complaints.
Supervisor Miley moved to accept the report, continue the program (no longer as a pilot), and direct staff to develop a proactive pilot for Ashland and Cherryland and to report back to committee; Supervisor Fortunato Bass seconded. The board approved the motion on a roll-call vote.
Next steps noted by staff include refining options for a proactive pilot, exploring whether existing county business-license systems could serve as a rental registry, and returning to the board at a July work session or in early next year with further analysis and recommendations for resourcing and implementation.
