Oakland requires landlords offering tenants money to vacate, often called cash-for-keys agreements, to provide written disclosures of tenant rights and to file the executed agreement with the Rent Adjustment Program within a defined period.
Buyout agreements are governed by the Tenant Protection Ordinance and Rent Adjustment Program rules. Before discussing payment, the landlord must serve a written notice listing tenant rights, including the right to consult an attorney, refuse the offer without penalty, and rescind a signed agreement within a statutory window. Executed agreements must be filed with RAP. Oral offers, undisclosed offers, or offers tied to threats are unlawful and may convert the transaction into a prohibited eviction or harassment claim.
Failure to disclose, file, or honor the rescission window may void the buyout, expose the landlord to penalties and treble damages, and reinstate the tenant's full Just Cause protections.
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See how Oakland's cash-for-keys agreements rules stack up against other locations.
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