The San Francisco Housing Inventory Reporting Ordinance will require owners to report information on the current use of all residential units in the City. Starting July 1, 2022, owners of buildings with more than 10 units must register units and report information. Owners of buildings with fewer units may commence registration on March 1, 2023.
The SF Housing Inventory law will require owners to obtain a license as a prerequisite to raising rents on tenants. If an owner fails to properly register their units, a license will not be issued. The withholding of a license is temporary until the owner registers the unit.
All registration must be done using the Housing Inventory Portal on the San Francisco Rent Board website. First time visitors to the Portal must create an account to log in. Creating an account will allow the owner to view property information, submit data on the property, obtain a license to increase rents, pay annual Rent Board fees or request an exemption from fees.
The Portal will ask the owner for:
- The name of the owner or property manager and their contact information so the City can address any habitability issues.
- The number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and square footage.
- The dates that units became vacant.
- Base rents on units rented.
- Anything else that the Rent Board deems appropriate.
Tenants will be able to use the Portal to view property information, comment on information already submitted by the owner and view the owner’s license to increase rent.
The Rent Board intends to use the information submitted to inspect and investigate housing services, investigate rents charged and vacancies in buildings and to generate reports for lawmakers. While this is all very helpful to tenants, it is bad news for landlords. SF will be using data it collects to make it more difficult and uneconomical to own rental property in the City. Expect more fees and regulations that burden your rental business in the months and years ahead.
If you would like information on how to withdraw your units from the rental market, contact our office. We will guide you through the Ellis Act process.
Link to the law: https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=9024120&GUID=79C40690-896E-43CD-9855-77B3AC909AEF
