AFTER YOU FILE THE PETITION
We send the landlord an objection form they can use to dispute your claims. Landlords have 20 days
to respond to your petition after they get the form and must give you a copy of the completed form.
We will send you a notice of your hearing date, or we may make a decision about your case without a
hearing. A hearing is where you and the landlord present evidence to a hearing examiner. Evidence
can include things like testimony, documents, and photos. A hearing is less formal than a court trial.
After the hearing, the hearing examiner will issue a written decision on whether the rent should be
decreased.
HELP WITH UNDERSTANDING TENANT PETITIONS FOR RENT DECREASE
While not required, we strongly recommend that you speak with a Rent Board housing counselor to
discuss your claims and to make sure that the Rent Board has the authority to adjust your rent.
Housing counselors can answer questions, help with the petition process, and review your petition
package for completeness, but they cannot provide legal advice or guarantee the outcome of your
case. To contact a housing counselor: Use our online appointment form by going to
rentboard.berkeleyca.gov and clicking on the “Housing Counselor Appointments” button; call (510)
981-7368 (RENT); or email rent@berkeleyca.gov.
The laws and regulations for these types of petitions can be found at Berkeley Municipal Code
section 13.76.120 and Regulations Chapter 12.
(Petition begins on next page.)
Tenant Petition for Rent Decrease
PETITION NUMBER T-
(Assigned by Rent Board staff )
PROPERTY ADDRESS
Street Number and Name
Unit Number Zip Code