San Francisco Housing Inventory: Annual Reporting Requirements

What the Housing Inventory is

San Francisco's Rent Board Housing Inventory is a reporting system for residential property owners. The Rent Board says owners must report into it before they can obtain a rent increase license, so an owner who has not reported cannot rely on a rent increase.

Who has to report

The Rent Board states that all owners of residential property are required to report into the Housing Inventory. Different information is collected depending on whether a unit is owner-occupied, non-owner occupied, or vacant.

Timing

The Rent Board says the reporting requirement took effect July 1, 2022, and March 1, 2023 for condominiums and buildings with 1 to 9 residential units. Check the Rent Board for current filing deadlines before you need to file.

What owners report

Reports can include owner or business contact information, unit size, bedrooms, bathrooms, and vacancy or occupancy history. Information entered into the Housing Inventory is public, so keep the source records used to prepare each submission.

Keep contact information current

Owners must provide business contact information for the owner or designated property manager responsible for habitability issues. Keep this information current in the Housing Inventory so tenants and the city can reach the right person.

Do not confuse Housing Inventory with the Rent Board fee

The Rent Board says Housing Inventory reporting does not satisfy a request for a Rent Board fee exemption, and an exemption request does not satisfy the Housing Inventory requirement. Keep these as separate records.

A simple way to manage the cycle

Record the property, reporting status, responsible person, submission confirmation, and the date of the next required filing. Keep the Housing Inventory record linked to the property so the filing history is easy to find.