// maintenance · El Cerrito

Maintenance and Repairs in El Cerrito

State law only: 8.8% for Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027 under AB 1482. No local cap; the 2019 just-cause ordinance was repealed by referendum. A 24-hour line, licensed vendors, your approval threshold, and the vendor's invoice with nothing added.

8.8%State cap, Aug 2026 to Jul 2027
$50Rent Registry fee per unit, due Jul 31
$2,506Median rent, Oct 2026

How this works in El Cerrito

Repairs are where owner money leaks and tenant goodwill is won or lost. We run a 24-hour maintenance line, send licensed and insured vendors, and bill you exactly what the vendor billed us. You set a dollar threshold in the management agreement; below it we fix the problem, above it we call you with a quote. Habitability issues, no heat, no hot water, water coming in, go first, because in the East Bay a habitability complaint is also an eviction defense and in Oakland grounds for a tenant petition to the Rent Adjustment Program.

Cap
State law only: 8.8% for Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027 under AB 1482. No local cap; the 2019 just-cause ordinance was repealed by referendum. AB 1482 covers units older than 15 years; individually owned single-family homes and condos are exempt with the lease notice. The Rent Registry covers every rental unit regardless.
Just cause
State law only: AB 1482 just cause after 12 months for covered units. No local ordinance.
Fees and filings
FY 2026-27: business license $100 new or $36 renewal plus $4; business tax $138 per unit; Rent Registry $50 per unit, online only, due Jul 31; Residential Rental Inspection every two years at $247 single-family or $320 multifamily plus $87 each additional unit.

What is included

The full picture for owners is on the El Cerrito page; the service on its own is described under maintenance.

// questions

Maintenance in El Cerrito: questions owners ask

How much can I raise rent in El Cerrito this year?

There is no city cap. A covered unit is limited to the state 8.8% for Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027. An individually owned house or condo with the AB 1482 lease notice is uncapped, with 90 days notice required above 10%.

Do I have to register my single-family rental?

Yes. Every rental unit reports rent and tenancy to the Rent Registry each year at business-license renewal, $50 per unit, online only from Jul 1, 2026, due Jul 31. You also pay the $138 per-unit business tax and the $247 single-family inspection every two years.

Can I use my own handyman or plumber?

Yes, if they are licensed where the law requires it and carry insurance. We will add them to the vendor list for your property and dispatch to them first. If they do not respond within the window a repair needs, we send our vendor and tell you.

How fast do you respond to an emergency?

The line is answered around the clock. Loss of heat, hot water or water service, an active leak, a lockout, a sewer backup and a safety hazard are dispatched the same day, usually within hours. We tell you by text or email as soon as a vendor is assigned.

Who pays for a repair the tenant caused?

The tenant, where the lease and the facts support it. We document the cause with photos and the vendor's report, bill the tenant, and if it is unpaid at move-out it comes from the deposit with an itemized statement. Ordinary wear is the owner's cost under California law and we will tell you when something is wear rather than damage.

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Free rental analysis, El Cerrito

What your place should rent for, what the city will let you charge next year, and what we would do first. Written, within one business day.

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