Under AB 1482, landlords may raise rent no more than twice per year, but cumulative increases cannot exceed 5 percent plus the local Consumer Price Index, or 10 percent total — whichever is lower. The law covers most residential units built before 2005, including some single-family homes and condos, depending on ownership structure. Corporate-owned single-family homes are generally covered; individually owned homes may not be.

The distinction matters. A tenant in a non-rent-controlled unit who receives two increases in a single calendar year may still have a claim under state law if the combined total crosses the threshold — a scenario playing out in online forums where San Francisco renters report back-to-back notices without knowing their options.

Mobile home park residents face a separate and in some cases starker problem. State protections for that sector have lagged behind those covering traditional rentals, and residents who own their homes but rent the underlying land have limited leverage when park operators raise space rents sharply. Advocacy organizations have pushed Sacramento for stronger mobile home rent stabilization, with mixed results in recent legislative sessions.

The San Francisco Tenants Union offers free counseling and can assess whether a specific unit qualifies under local or state protections. The office is at 558 Capp Street.

Watch for: The California Legislature is in session through mid-September. Any amendments to AB 1482's exemption list or mobile home park provisions would need to clear the Appropriations Committee before a floor vote. The next San Francisco Rent Board hearing schedule is posted at sfrb.org.