// tenant placement · Richmond

Tenant Placement and Leasing in Richmond

1.5% for Sep 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2027 (lesser of 60% of CPI or 3%), only after one full year of tenancy; prior year 1.62%. Priced to the market, screened to a written standard, leased with the notices your city requires.

1.5%Allowable increase, Sep 2026 to Aug 2027
$261Rental Housing Fee per fully covered unit
$2,500Median rent, Oct 2026

How this works in Richmond

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
1.5% for Sep 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2027 (lesser of 60% of CPI or 3%), only after one full year of tenancy; prior year 1.62%. Fully covered: multi-unit buildings permitted before Feb 1, 1995. Partially covered (just cause only): single-family homes, condos, post-1995 and subsidized units.
Just cause
All units under RMC 11.100. Eviction notices are filed with the Rent Program within 2 business days; rent-increase notices within 10 business days, with 30 days notice at 10% or less and 90 days above.
Fees and filings
Rental Housing Fee FY 2026-27: $261 per fully covered unit, $149 per partially covered, per year; late penalties 10, 25 and 50%, and the city may lien. Residential Rental Inspection: $106 registration plus $211 per unit every 3 years. Business tax certificate required; confirm the rate with the city.

What is included

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

// questions

Tenant Placement in Richmond: questions owners ask

How much can I raise rent in Richmond this year?

1.5% for Sep 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2027 on fully covered units (multi-unit permitted before Feb 1, 1995), and only after the tenant has been in place a full year. The notice is filed with the Rent Program within 10 business days. A single-family home or condo is partially covered and follows the state 8.8% cap unless it qualifies for the AB 1482 exemption.

Do I have to register my single-family rental?

Yes. A house or condo is partially covered and pays the $149 Rental Housing Fee each year, plus the $106 inspection registration and a $211 inspection every 3 years. A business tax certificate is also required; confirm the rate with the city.

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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