July 7, 2026 Understanding the One-Time Utility Adjustment Petition Workshop

City staff presented a workshop explaining the one-time utility adjustment petition process under the Community Stabilization and Fair Rent Act (CSFRA), which phases out fluctuating utility charges (like RUBS) and rolls a fixed utility amount into a tenant's total rent for covered units with tenancies beginning before March 1, 2024. Staff detailed the petition steps, including landlord filing, staff review, the 30-day tenant response period, and the notice of final determination, noting that downward adjustments take effect within ~60 days while upward adjustments wait until the next annual rent increase. An attendee asked clarifying questions about which utilities are covered, whether rents could be lowered, and how the rule affects new buildings, which staff confirmed are not covered by the CSFRA.