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Alameda County updates just-cause, mediation and rental-registry plans as advocates push for stronger tenant support
Summary
County staff reported early results from Just Cause and a new mediation program, outlined a rental-registry and proactive inspection pilot, and heard divergent public input: tenant advocates pressed for broader protections and housing counselors; housing-provider groups highlighted nonpayment as the main dispute driver.
County housing staff updated the Unincorporated Services Committee on Feb. 26 about tenant-protection efforts and next steps.
Jennifer of Housing and Community Development summarized the first year of Just Cause (adopted Feb. 4), reporting 153 eviction notices received by the county (MarchNov. 2025) and 62 unlawful-detainer actions filed with the court in the same period. The majority of notices (about 93 percent of a cited sample) were for nonpayment of rent, staff said, and staff recommended improved outreach, a rental-registry to improve owner contact information and continued monitoring of informal evictions that do not reach the courthouse.
Mediation results and access: The countys new mediation ordinance (county-funded mediators) initiated 21 cases after launch; 8 have closed and 2 were partially resolved. Staff said the most common mediation issues are habitability and nonpayment. Staff also noted a pilot courthouse-based mediation program run by AC Housing Secure that achieved high resolution rates and might be continued with funding.
Planned ordinances and pilots: Staff outlined a Fair Chance Housing ordinance (being revised after a 9th Circuit decision), a stand-alone rental registry to collect ownership and contact information, a three-and-a-half-year proactive rental-inspection pilot for Ashland, Cherryland and Hayward Acres, and a landlord-tenant relations ordinance to clarify rights, add anti-harassment/anti-retaliation measures and provide a formal intake and referral hub.
Funding and programs: The county plans to use $1.2 million from unincorporated Measure W essential services funds to support tenant-landlord programs, including continuing ARPA-funded efforts (landlord resource center, MyEd and Voice outreach) and an emergency rental-assistance proposal to address nonpayment of rent in the short term.
Public reaction: Tenant advocates urged stronger protections (including expansion of Just Cause to more units), a rental registry and a funded housing counselor to support mediation intake so tenants have assistance when negotiating. Housing-provider associations praised the mediation results, urged careful cost assessments and recommended emergency rental assistance as an efficient way to reduce eviction filings.
Next steps: Staff said stakeholder engagement will begin this spring for the additional ordinances, the rental-registry draft is underway and specific contracts for Measure W-funded providers will come to the board in spring for authorization.
