The purpose of this report is to transmit to the City Council the results of a Vacancy Rate Survey completed by Housing Division staff during the month of December 1999. Information collected during this survey indicates a vacancy rate of 1.26% for apartment complexes in Sunnyvale.

Chapter 19, Section 84.04 of the Municipal Code Condominium Conversion Ordinance requires the Director of Community Development to determine twice each year the vacancy rate for apartments within the City. The ordinance states that no apartments in the City can be converted to condominium status until the vacancy rate reaches 3%. The ordinance also states that the vacancy rate must exceed 3% for more than one year prior to the allowance of any conversions.

During December 1999, Housing Division staff conducted a telephone survey of 108 apartment complexes and received responses from 104 apartment complexes located in the City of Sunnyvale. These complexes contain a total of 14,049 units which represent approximately 50% of the City’s entire rental stock. The complexes surveyed include all of those for which business licenses have been issued and all of those included on a listing issued by the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce. The survey does not include rental properties containing one to four units.

The survey found that out of a total of 104 complexes contacted with 14,049 units, 177 units were vacant at the time of contact, giving a vacancy rate of 1.26%. Any complexes that were totally rent subsidized were excluded from the vacancy rate calculation. A 1.26% vacancy rate reflects a decrease from the June 1999 Vacancy Survey which was 1.93%. The vacancy rate must remain over 3% for more than a year before the Sunnyvale Condominium Conversion Ordinance will allow apartment conversions.

The following current apartment rental rate information was collected during the vacancy survey. The information reflects the actual range of rents, including the median and average rents for apartments in the complexes surveyed in December 1999.

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Placement on Council Agenda

Prepared by:

Dyane Matas
Housing & Neighborhood Preservation Officer

Reviewed by:

David S. Boesch, Jr.
Director, Community Development

Approved by:

Robert S. LaSala
City Manager