Berkeley Tenants Union

We defend and advance tenants’ rights through grassroots organizing, outreach, and policy advocacy. Housing for people, not profit. #RentControl #SHIMBY

We believe housing is a human right and rent stabilization is Berkeley’s most effective affordable housing program. We will empower and educate tenants to preserve their right to stable, quality housing, because Berkeley is a better place to live when people from all walks of life can afford to make Berkeley their home. We are currently working on:
Short-Term Rentals
How Short-Term Rentals affect

05/12/2026

On Sunday, May 17, BTU will be hosting a ballot party. Bring your ballots to the Grassroots House for a discussion on this season’s elections!

05/03/2026

The 2026 Berkeley Rent Board Convention is officially over! We are pleased to announce that Berkeleyans have nominated Avery Arbaugh, Nathan Mizell, Ida Martinac, Vylma Ortiz, and Derek Rodriguez as the progressive, pro-tenant slate for Berkeley's Rent Board! Jon Toussaint is the official alternate candidate should someone drop out before the close of filing. Now the hard work begins, including getting these folks elected in November!

We'd also like to extend a big thanks to the Black Repertory Theatre for hosting us this year, all the Convention co-sponsors, the 7 candidates, and the Berkeleyans who voted in this year's Convention.

Sincerely,
The 2026 Berkeley Rent Board Convention Planning Committee

04/21/2026

Are you unable to pay rent or having trouble with your landlord? Our next FREE counseling clinic for East Bay tenants is Thursday, April 23 from 3-5pm! The deadline to sign-up at clinic.berkeleytenants.org is this Tuesday, April 21, i.e. two days before the clinic.

***If your landlord threatens to evict you for ANY reason, immediately email [email protected] with the subject line “I AM BEING EVICTED” so we can provide you help ASAP. Because of the extremely unfair legal deadlines for tenants facing evictions, it is crucial for tenants to react very quickly to eviction notices (even for blatantly illegal evictions). Do NOT wait to use our counseling clinic if you are facing an eviction.***

(California tenants living outside Alameda and Contra Costa counties should call Tenants Together at 888-495-8020 for counseling - both for responding to evictions and for general assistance.)

04/16/2026

Rent control and tenant protections are on the chopping block for tenants in nonprofit buildings. Comment in person or over Zoom! https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/council-committees/4x4-joint-task-force-committee-housing

04/13/2026

The 2026 Berkeley Tenants Convention is on Sunday, April 19! Help select the progressive, pro-tenant Berkeley Rent Board slate. Make sure to RSVP and/or request a ballot at
https://berkeleytenants.org/convention

04/10/2026

It's happening next week
Be there, or participate over Zoom (link to follow) whichever works best for you
Link to RSVP to attend and/or to request a ballot in the first comment

04/02/2026

Join us, , , and on April 7th for a know-your rights training and to learn how unionize your apartment building!

This event is open to all Berkeley residents, and the training is sponsored by the Berkeley Tenant Organizing Task Force - a joint project of BTU, the office of , and .

See you there!

03/30/2026

New finding from Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies: since 2001, the money left over each month for lower-income renters—after paying rent and utilities—has fallen 60 percent to a record low of $210.

Only $210 left over for food, healthcare, childcare, and our inalienable right to the pursuit of happiness.

In Berkeley, we have a Rent Board to help hold the line for tenants. If you support housing justice for tenants, vote for Rent Board commissioners who are aligned with your values.

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