Does Measure GG impact renters?
Yes. The City of Berkeley’s own report (page 17) says Measure GG “includes language intended to protect renters…. However, this language is unenforceable in many tenancies as written and does not have an actualized mechanism to prevent harm to renters, such as increased costs or displacement. Despite the language in the initiative, the tax may result in higher rental costs for rental units in subject properties either at the time of lease renewal or, for price-controlled units, adjustments during times of vacancy…Owners of residential rental units subject to price-control may pass on the cost of the tax by raising the starting rent of new tenancies…Rental units could be removed from the market all together due to the high cost to upgrade, or redevelop them by invoking the Ellis Act….Landlords could use ‘construction- as-harassment’, or projects that are undertaken to make tenants so uncomfortable in their homes that they voluntarily leave, as a way to force renters out of their home.”