Will Lafayette Allow Tenants to Contest Large Rent Increases?

Friday, November 10, 2017
Lisa P. White
East Bay Times

Two years ago, tenants of the apartment building at 1038 Second St. reported large rent hikes, evictions and onerous lease conditions. With rent control on the table, the council convinced the former property owner to cap rent increases at 10 percent.

Tilden Properties, a Walnut Creek real estate investment and asset management company, bought the 117-unit building in December 2016. Residents told the council in August that the firm planned to raise rents by up to 20 percent and refused to make repairs for longtime tenants.

In September, representative Ryan Crowley said Tilden Properties is spending more than $2 million to upgrade the building’s plumbing and electrical systems and make other repairs. He denied that the company has refused to fix amenities or replace appliances in individual units.

The council asked if the firm would consider setting a maximum rent increase of 10 percent. In a Nov. 7 email to the city, Crowley said the company has capped increases at 15 percent.

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