Why is getting the rent control status of your unit correct so important?
Navigating the world of rental property management comes with a maze of legal responsibilities—and one of the most critical factors to understand is whether your property is subject to rent control. For landlords, this isn’t just a legal technicality. Rent control can significantly impact how much you can charge for rent, when and how you can increase it, and even your ability to evict tenants. Failing to understand your property’s rent control status can lead to costly legal missteps, compliance issues, and potential tenant disputes.
Why Rent Control Status Matters in Automated Legal Workflows
Joiner’s real estate management platform streamlines critical landlord functions—automating everything from rent increase notices and notices of entry to cure-or-quit and pay-or-quit notices. Each of these documents is generated with built-in legal disclosures tailored to your property’s specific requirements. One key factor that shapes these legal templates? Rent control status. Whether or not a unit is subject to rent control directly impacts what language and requirements must be included in the notices you serve. That’s why accurately identifying rent control status isn’t just important—it’s essential for compliance and avoiding legal risk.
Disclaimer & Legal Guidance
This post is designed to help you assess whether your rental unit falls under rent control by summarizing key aspects of applicable laws. However, it is not a substitute for legal advice. Because rent control regulations vary widely by city—and because a unit not covered by a local ordinance may still fall under California’s statewide rent control and just cause eviction laws—it’s important to consult the relevant local statutes or seek advice from a qualified attorney to make a definitive determination.
Joiner partners with BrightWork Law PC, a firm known for delivering efficient, cost-effective legal counsel tailored to the needs of property owners and managers across California. If you are not sure about the status of your unit we recommend that you contact BrightWork or any other law firm.
Application of Rent Control and Just Cause in Concord, California
On April 19, 2024 Concord, California implemented a rent control and just cause for eviction ordinance (Ord. No. 24-03) which can be found here.
Concord rent control and just cause for eviction applies to all units except the following:
- Units in hotels or motels, but note that the exemption to rent control and just cause does not include “short-term rentals arrangements in which a Dwelling Unit is hired or occupied by reason of concession, permit, right of access, license, or other agreement for a period of 30 consecutive calendar days or less, counting portions of calendar days as full days.” CMC 19.40.020(a)(1).
- Institutional Facilities, i.e. hospitals, religious facilities, extended care facilities, licensed care facilities for the elderly, and adult residential facilities.
- Educational dormitories for higher education or grade school.
- Government owned housing.
- Roomates of an owner who lives in a unit, i.e. the owner’s principal place of residence is the unit and the owner shares a bathroom or kitchen with a tenant.
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) that have obtained a permit from the City of Concord.
- Emergency and homeless shelters.
- A property with two dwelling units (ADUs do not count) within a single structure (commonly referred to as a duplex) where the owner occupies one of the units.
Concord just cause for eviction applies to the following units:
- Those exempt under California law (i.e. those built before February 1, 1995) or federal law.
- Single family residences and condominium units.
- Certain types of affordable housing units.