San Leandro Property Management Under the New Rent Stabilization Law

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules change; check with the city or an attorney.

San Leandro owners are about to manage under a new rent stabilization law. OPM is an owner-operated property manager based in Oakland, run by Saj Shah, a licensed California broker (DRE #02003300). We help East Bay owners with leasing, rent collection, maintenance and compliance. We take on management in San Leandro.

San Leandro Property Management from an Oakland Owner-Operator

We manage apartment buildings in Oakland and the East Bay, and we specialize in Section 8 and compliance-heavy buildings. For San Leandro owners, that means someone who reads the new ordinance closely and builds the notices, registry filings and rent ledgers around it before January.

San Leandro Rent Rules Owners Need to Know

• Ordinance No. 2026-001 (SLMC Chapter 4-46) was adopted Feb. 2, 2026 and takes effect January 1, 2027.
• Base rent is the rent in effect on July 1, 2025. Starting Jan. 1, 2027, annual increases on covered units are capped at the lesser of 3% or 65% of CPI.
• For a unit occupied since July 1, 2025, the first maximum is the base rent plus 3.3% (0.8% for 2025 + 2.5% for 2026). Rents above the maximum must be reduced on Jan. 1, 2027.
• One increase per 12 months. No banking of unused increases.
• Owners must register units under the Rental Registry Ordinance (Ch. 4-45) and be current on fees before increasing rent. Ordinance 2026-007 (July 6, 2026) bars passing the Rent Stabilization Program fee through to tenants.
• A Fair Return Petition is available to owners.
• Exempt units include those with a certificate of occupancy after Feb. 1, 1995, most single-family homes and condos that can be sold separately, ADUs, and subsidized or deed-restricted housing, among others. Check the City FAQ for the full list.

State law. Units not covered by local rent control may still be covered by the California Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482, Civil Code §1947.12). For Aug. 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027, the AB 1482 cap is 8.8%, per the City of Alameda Rent Program, AGA notice (May 18, 2026). AB 1482 also has just-cause eviction rules for most tenancies.

Sources: City of San Leandro Rent Program; Rent Program FAQs (Sept. 2026, revised); Ordinance No. 2026-001; SLMC Chapter 4-46.

What’s Included in San Leandro Property Management

• Leasing: marketing, showings, screening every applicant with the same written rental criteria, and lease signing
• Rent collection and owner statements
• Maintenance coordination, with vendor costs passed through at cost and no markups
• Bookkeeping and year-end records
• Compliance: rent increase notices, local registration and filings, and state-law notices for San Leandro

Section 8 in San Leandro

Housing Choice Vouchers in San Leandro are administered by the Housing Authority of the County of Alameda (HACA). We handle the Request for Tenancy Approval, inspection prep and HAP paperwork. We work with HACA on voucher tenancies. Under California law, landlords cannot refuse an applicant because of a voucher.

Pricing

Management fees are based on portfolio size and charged on gross rent collected: Under 10 units: 8% / 10–40 units: 7% / Over 40 units: 6%. Leasing is 50% of the first month’s rent. Housing inspections are $100 each. Lease renewals are free, and consulting is priced case by case. We don’t mark up repairs; vendor costs are passed through at cost. Monthly ACH deposits to you are free, and we prepare your 1099s at year end. See our property management fees page.

Switching Managers in San Leandro

Already have a manager in San Leandro? Switching is mostly paperwork: notice under your current contract, a handoff of deposits, ledgers, leases and keys, and a letter to tenants. California requires tenants to be told about a manager change within 15 days (Civil Code §1962). Our guide to switching property managers walks through each step. Not ready to switch? Ask about our consultant option. Consulting is priced case by case. Contact us for details.

San Leandro Property Management FAQ

When does San Leandro rent stabilization start?

January 1, 2027. Ordinance No. 2026-001 adds Chapter 4-46 to the San Leandro Municipal Code. Until then, rent increases are governed by state law and your leases.

What is the maximum rent for 2027?

For a unit occupied since July 1, 2025, the City’s FAQ says the maximum on Jan. 1, 2027 is the July 1, 2025 rent plus 3.3% (0.8% for 2025 plus 2.5% for 2026). After that, the cap is the lesser of 3% or 65% of CPI, once every 12 months.

Do I have to lower my rent?

Possibly. If a covered unit’s rent is above the July 1, 2025 base rent plus the allowable increase, the City’s FAQ says the owner must reduce it to the maximum effective Jan. 1, 2027.

Do I need to register my units?

Yes. San Leandro’s Rental Registry Ordinance requires registration, and the City says owners must be registered and current on fees to take an increase.

Is there just cause in San Leandro?

San Leandro’s new ordinance limits rent increases; eviction rules come mainly from state law (AB 1482), and the City’s Tenant Relocation Ordinance also applies. Check with the Rent Program for your situation.

Do you work with the housing authority in San Leandro?

Yes. Housing Choice Vouchers in San Leandro are administered by the Housing Authority of the County of Alameda (HACA), and OPM works with HACA on voucher tenancies, including inspections and HAP paperwork.

Does OPM manage in San Leandro?

Yes. OPM takes on property management in San Leandro, including leasing, rent collection, maintenance coordination and compliance.

More for owners: Oakland apartment property management · Section 8 property management · owner FAQ · Berkeley property management · Hayward property management