If your apartment in Oakland was built before 1976, it's rent controlled and that's definitely illegal. Even if there wasn't a former lease, they can't raise the rent by more than a certain amount, often less than 1%.
I also found that specific 1976 law when he brought up the rent increase, but it turns out my building was built in the 80's. I don't necessarily agree with rent control anyways, and I'm not angry at the landlord for wanting to earn market rate on his property. It's just really exhausting to live somewhere like this.