REMINDER: ONCE A PETITION IS SUBMITTED TO THE RENT ADJUSTMENT PROGAM (“RAP”) IT BECOMES A PUBLIC RECORD. PLEASE REDACT ANY PRIVATE INFORMATION (SUCH AS BANK ACCOUNT NUMBERS, CREDIT CARD NUMBERS, OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS) FROM THE DOCUMENTS YOU SUBMIT AS PART OF THIS PETITION. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU MAY CONTACT RAP STAFF AT (510) 238-3721 OR BY EMAIL AT RAP@oaklandca.gov

NOTICE: Changes to Petition Filing Requirements
Due to changes in the Rent Adjustment Ordinance, all tenant petitioners are required to serve a complete copy of the petition submitted to the Rent Adjustment Program ("RAP") directly on the opposing parties along with a copy of the Notice To Property Owner of Tenant Petition which you will be able to download below. 

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 with any attachments along with the Notice to Property Owner of Tenant Petition mentioned above, on the property owner (or designated representative). A copy of your completed and signed Proof of Service must be included with the petition, attachments, and Notice you serve on the property owner. You must also submit a copy of the Notice to Property Owners of Tenant 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, Notice to Property Owner and of 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 petition number that the system generated for you.
       
        Rent Adjustment Program
        250 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Suite 5313
        Oakland, CA 94612-0243Time to File Your Petition: This form must be received within the time limit for filing a petition as set out in the Rent Adjustment Ordinance, Oakland Municipal Code (“O.M.C.”), Chapter 8.22. For petitions contesting a rent increase, you have 90 days from the date you received the notice of rent increase or from the first date you received the required "Notice to Tenants of the Residential Rent Adjustment Program" (“RAP Notice”) from the property owner (whichever is later) to file a petition. If you did not receive a RAP Notice with the rent increase you are contesting but have received it in the past, you have 120 days to file a petition. If you have never received a RAP Notice, you may contest all rent increases. For petitions claiming decreased housing services, you have 90 days from either the date you first became aware of the decreased service or the date you first received the RAP Notice (whichever is later) to file a petition. If the decreased housing service is ongoing, you may file a petition at any time. See O.M.C. 822.090.A.(2)-(3)).

Housing Counselor Services: Contact a Housing Counselor to review your Petition before submitting. To make an appointment, email RAP@oaklandca.gov or call (510) 238-3271.

Jurisdiction: Please note that if your rent is controlled or subsidized by any other governmental agency, your unit is not covered by the Rent Adjustment Ordinance and the Oakland Rent Adjustment Program does not have jurisdiction over your claim. O.M.C. § 8.22.030(A)(1).

File Review: The Rent Adjustment office will mail you and the property owner 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 property owner will be required to submit a property owner 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.