REMINDER: ONCE THIS FORM IS SUBMITTED TO THE RENT ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM (“RAP”)  IT BECOMES A PUBLIC RECORD. PLEASE REDACT ANY PRIVATE INFORMATION (SUCH AS BANK ACCOUNT NUMBERS, CREDIT CARD NUMBERS, OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS) AS PART OF THIS FORM. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT RAP STAFF AT (510) 238-3721 OR BY EMAIL AT RAP@OAKLANDCA.GOV.
 
Time to File: This form must be received within the time limit for filing a petition as set out in the Rent Adjustment Ordinance, Oakland Municipal Code, Chapter 8.22. For more information, please call: (510) 238-3721.
 
NOTICE: Changes to Petition Filing Requirements
Due to changes in the Rent Adjustment Ordinance, all Owner petitioners are required to serve a complete copy of their petitions directly on the opposing party. Therefore, property owners are required to serve their petitions directly on all tenants affected by a property owner's petition for approval of rent increase; a property owner’s petition for certificate of exemption; or a property owner’s petition to extend time for vacancy. While a property owner must serve the Owner Petition document on every affected tenant, along with a Notice to Tenants and proof of service (both of which are available below), if the additional documents submitted with the petition exceed 25 pages, the property owner is not required to serve all tenants with the additional documents. If the owner opts out of serving the additional documents, the owner’s petition (or attachment) must specify that they are opting out and that the documents are or will be available at the RAP. Additionally, the tenant may request the documents directly from the property owner. If the tenant requests the documents, the property owner must serve the documents on the requesting tenant within ten days of the tenant’s request.
  
Note: For your petition to be considered complete, you must submit a Proof of Service to the RAP office asserting that you have served a copy of the entire petition and Notice to Tenants (see below) on the affected tenants. Note that if you submit more than 25 pages of additional documentation, the rules listed above apply. A copy of your completed and signed Proof of Service must be uploaded after the petition and documents are served on the tenants. You must also submit a copy of the Notice to Tenant of the Property Owner Petition that you served.

The Proof of Service form will appear after you finish and submit this online petition. Please complete and sign the Proof of Service and upload it to your RAP online petition file. You will be able to print copies of the petition, the Notice to Tenants and the Proof of Service to mail and to keep for your records. If you have a problem uploading your Proof of Service, you may mail it to the Rent Adjustment Program. Be sure to include your electronic  petition number that the system generated for you.
       
        Rent Adjustment Program
        250 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Suite 5313
        Oakland, CA 94612-0243

Housing Counselor Services: Contact a Housing Counselor to review your petition before submitting. To make an appointment contact rap@oaklandca.gov or call 510-238-3721.  

File Review: The Rent Adjustment office will mail you and the affected tenants a letter informing you of the case number (which is different than your online petition number) and the date of any required appearances regarding your case. The tenants will be required to submit a tenant response and to mail you a copy of that document and any other documents that they submit. If you want to review the file, you may make an appointment to review the case file or request copies by calling the RAP office at (510)-238-3721.