// tenant placement · Albany

Tenant Placement and Leasing in Albany

State law only: 8.8% for Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027 under AB 1482. An increase over 5% in 12 months can be sent to non-binding mediation under the Rent Review Ordinance. Priced to the market, screened to a written standard, leased with the notices your city requires.

8.8%State cap, Aug 2026 to Jul 2027
about $15Registration per unit per year, renew by Jan 31
$2,490Median rent, Oct 2026

How this works in Albany

A vacancy costs more than the leasing fee. At Oakland's average rent of $2,323, every empty week is about $540 gone. We price the unit against what is actually renting nearby, list it with professional-quality photos you supply or we arrange, show it on a schedule that fits working applicants, and screen every file against the same written standard. The lease we sign carries the AB 1482 notices or the local ordinance notices the unit needs, so the first day of the tenancy does not become a problem on the last day.

Cap
State law only: 8.8% for Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027 under AB 1482. An increase over 5% in 12 months can be sent to non-binding mediation under the Rent Review Ordinance. The Rent Review Ordinance (since Nov 2, 2018) covers most rentals including single-family homes and condos. AB 1482 exempts individually owned houses and condos with the lease notice, and buildings under 15 years old.
Just cause
State law today: AB 1482 just cause after 12 months. In March 2026 the council ordered drafts of expanded just cause, mandatory eviction-notice filing and a license-to-evict rule; confirm the current status with the city.
Fees and filings
Property registration about $15 per unit per year, paid with the business license; renewals due Jan 31.

What is included

The full picture for owners is on the Albany page; the service on its own is described under tenant placement.

// questions

Tenant Placement in Albany: questions owners ask

How much can I raise rent in Albany 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. Either way, any increase over 5% in 12 months lets the tenant request non-binding mediation under the Rent Review Ordinance.

Do I have to register my single-family rental?

Yes. Albany registers each rental property with the business license at about $15 per unit per year, renewed by Jan 31, and the Rent Review Ordinance covers single-family homes and condos.

How long does it take to lease a unit?

It depends on the price and the season. In Lafayette, one flat-fee competitor reports 14 to 21 days to lease. A unit priced to recent comps in Oakland or Berkeley, listed with good photos and shown promptly, is usually in the same range. A unit priced above the market can sit for months.

Can I choose which applicant gets the unit?

You set the standard with us before the listing goes live: minimum income multiple, credit floor, reference requirements. Once it is set, the first applicant who meets it gets the unit. Choosing between qualified applicants on anything else is where fair-housing claims come from, and we will not do it.

What security deposit can I collect?

California caps security deposits at one month's rent (AB 12), whether the unit is furnished or not. In Berkeley the deposit also earns interest that must be paid to the tenant by Dec 31 each year; the 2025 rate was 0.9%.

What is the leasing fee and when is it earned?

Typically half of one month's rent, charged once the tenant has signed and paid. It covers pricing, listing, showings, screening, the lease and the move-in report. Nothing is owed if we do not place a tenant.

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