1685 Solano Ave. Co-op Apartments
Now Available: One 1-Bedroom 1-Bath Unit
Rent: $2,040 / Security Deposit: $2,040
The Bay Area Community Land Trust (BACLT) is delighted to announce the availability of one (1) 2-bedroom / 1-bath apartment for households earning less than 80% of Area Median Income. Eligible Households must include at least two people. Minimum income: applicants must earn at least 2x the monthly rent as monthly income to qualify.
Maximum Household Income Limits:
1 People 2 People 3 People
$89,520 $102,320 $115,120
1685 Solano Co-op Formation
Join existing residents at 1685 Solano to establish a new Affordable Housing Co-op in Berkeley! BACLT will provide educational sessions throughout the two-year Co-op formation process as the 13 resident households learn how to become Co-op owners and managers.
Located at 1685 Solano Avenue in North Berkeley, this beautiful 13-unit apartment building is on Solano Avenue, walking distance to restaurants, shops, and public transit. There is a laundry room on-site and one parking spot in the garage is included with each unit rented. Rent includes water/sewer and garbage/recycling; electric and internet service is not included and must be paid by the tenant. This building is a no-smoking building. No pets allowed.
Accessibility information:
The property was built in 1964 without wheelchair accessibility, however, reasonable accommodation and modification requests are welcome for review. All units are located above the ground floor parking garage. There is a small hydraulic lift elevator in the building, but it is not wheelchair accessible. There is 1 step up from the back garage door and 2 steps from the entry front door to the hydraulic lift. From there, there are 33 steps to unit #202.
Application Process:
Attend Open House (Optional):
Monday, November 3rd, at 1685 Solano Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94707Attend Virtual Orientation Session (Required): All interested applicants must attend a 1-hour Virtual Orientation Session before they can receive an application. Visit www.bayareaclt.org to register. People needing a special accommodation for translation, visual or hearing assistance can send a request to: vacancy@bayareaclt.org. Please click links below to register for an online session.
Virtual Orientation Sessions (mandatory): Click here to register for a date to attend an orientation session.
Applications must be submitted by 5:00pm on Monday, November 10, 2025
If there are more applications received than apartments available, then applications will be drawn and ranked by lottery.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the Occupancy and Income Restrictions?
Two-bedroom apartments allow a minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 5 people;
All units are non-smoking; No pets allowed;
Minimum Household Income: at least 2 x monthly rent
Maximum Household Income cannot exceed 80% of Area Median Income:
Maximum Household Income Limits:
1 People 2 People 3 People
$89,520 $102,320 $115,120
2. What are the other requirements for the application approval? Residents must:
Have Good Credit History: No active collection accounts or at-fault evictions
Have a satisfactory Rental Reference;
Live in the unit at least ten months out of the year as your permanent, sole residence;
Occupy the unit as their sole, permanent residence within 60 days of the lease start date;
Have no ownership interest in any residence, either as an investment or alternate residence;
Have at least one adult member of the household (e.g., at least 18 years old);
Have no employment relationship with the property owner or property management company; and
Be willing to join the new Housing Cooperative and participate in at least 4-6 hours per month of voluntary work to form and manage the Co-op.
Applicants who have a “Certificate of Displacement” from the City of Berkeley are given a preference ranking in the application process. For more information visit: https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/PreferenceEligibilityRequirements_0.pdf
3. How do I know if I meet the Income Limits?
Before an applicant is invited to sign a lease, they must provide documentation of all household income, including the following:
Two most recent bank statements
Three most recent pay stubs
Unemployment compensation statements, pensions, financial aid, disability, Social Security, and other forms of periodic non-wage income
Most recent tax return
If self-employed, then two most recent tax returns, 1099s and any other relevant documents
If dependent upon another adult, then the most recent tax return of that other person
4. How do I apply?
Attend a virtual BACLT Orientation Session.
Submit an application to: vacancy@bayareaclt.org or postmarked to: BACLT PO Box 2652; Berkeley, CA; 94702
Complete Tenant Income Certification Interview
Authorize a Credit Report, which will show any prior evictions and active collections.
Pay security deposit of $2,040, sign lease, schedule walk-thru and move-in dates. First month’s rent due before move-in date. Can move in on any day of the month, with pro-rated rent.
5. What is the Bay Area Community Land Trust (BACLT)?
BACLT is a nonprofit whose mission is to create and support permanently affordable, resident-run housing cooperatives (Co-ops) for low- and moderate-income households (<80% AMI) in the Bay Area. BACLT’s program goals are two-fold: 1) to stabilize naturally affordable housing by acquiring, renovating and converting multi-family properties into permanently affordable, Housing Co-ops; and 2) to create and sustain Affordable Housing Co-ops by providing education, training and technical assistance for co-op boards, members and other community members interested in living in a Housing Co-op.
6. What is a Housing Co-operative (Co-op)?
A Housing Cooperative is a property that looks like an apartment building but the residents share ownership of the property without the subdivision of units like in a condominium property. Resident-owners don’t need to get an individual mortgage to buy their unit, but rather they own a “share” in the Cooperative Corporation and an “exclusive right to occupy” their apartment. The price for a Co-op “share” varies across Co-ops. BACLT creates affordable Co-ops in which the resident “share” ranges from $0 to $6,000. Residents pay a monthly fee that equals the monthly budget required to manage the property. The more residents do to self-manage the property, the more money they save by not having to pay professional contractors. Co-ops are also inheritable. As a new, yet to be formed Co-op, BACLT will provide educational sessions throughout the two-year Co-op formation process to the residents of Solano Avenue Apartments, as they learn how to become Co-op owners and managers.
Bay Area Community Land Trust works with Solano ave resident co-stewards to provide educational sessions throughout the co-op formation process, as the 13 households continue to build out self-governance systems to become a formal legal Cooperative, owners and property managers.
7. What apartments are available for move-in?
Apartment: Monthly Rent: Security Deposit: Notes:
#400 - 1 Bedroom /1 Bath $2,040 $2,040 4th floor,
One parking space
8. Have more questions? Email us at vacancy@bayareaclt.org