Bay Area Legal Aid - Alameda County Renters’ Rights During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Frequently Asked Questions

Navigating Emergency Tenant Protections and Resources for Renters during Coronavirus Pandemic

A number of temporary measures to protect tenants during the public health emergency have been enacted at state, county, and city levels. Making sense of this patchwork of overlapping, sometimes contradictory legislation and policy can be challenging. Bay Legal recommends that tenants:

• Consult the web page, "Resources and News for Tenants During the COVID-19 Emergency," which lays out essential first steps to protect yourself if you are having trouble paying rent during the emergency, and provides links to self-help resources, news, and updates. Check back frequently, as we are updating the page as changes affecting housing law emerge.
• Consult this useful Q&A published by the San Jose Mercury News on April 14, 2020, which quotes housing law attorneys including Bay Legal Senior Attorney Hilda Chan. (The Mercury News’ coronavirus-related coverage is being made available free of charge during the state of emergency).
• Seek legal advice and counsel. Tenants concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on their housing issues:
  • [Alameda County residents]: Please call our Tenants Rights Line at 1 (888) 382-3405.
  • [All other Bay Area residents]: Please call our Legal Advice Line at 1 (800) 551-5554.

Please share this information widely with Bay Area renters, and the advocates, organizations, and community institutions that serve tenants. Thank you!

There are flyers attached for posting and distribution.

• Alameda County QA for COVID-19 v.5 FINAL.pdf
• TRL Flyer 2018.pdf