Tenant Law Articles
The new legislation passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to ban evictions for nonpayment of rent may be risky for tenants. Although the Board of Supervisors had good intentions, tenants who rely on this law to not pay rent may end up evicted. Landlord lawyers are already drafting a lawsuit against the City […] Read More
Eviction Protection Applies to Almost All Residential Units in San Francisco Newly constructed buildings (i.e. buildings built after 1979) are no longer exempt from the just-cause for eviction protections under the San Francisco Rent Ordinance. As of January 22, 2020, most residential units now have eviction protection under the Ordinance, including anti-harassment protection, regardless of […] Read More
Should I file a wrongful eviction petition at the San Francisco Rent Board? Be careful. Wrongful eviction petitions are not what they seem. The San Francisco Rent Board has no power to stop eviction proceedings. Eviction lawsuits are resolved at the San Francisco Superior Court only. It is the rare case when a tenant would […] Read More
What is an illegal, unwarranted, non-conforming, or unpermitted unit? Illegal units are dwellings that do not have the required Certificate of Occupancy, which is a document that certifies that a residential building complies with all state and local building codes and is safe to live in. An illegal unit is also sometimes referred to as […] Read More
Can landlords prohibit tenants from smoking cigarettes? Yes. Landlords have the right to prohibit smoking of cigarettes or other tobacco products in and around a rental property as long as it is written into the lease agreement. CAL. CIV. CODE § 1947.5. Many leases ban smoking of any kind, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and marijuana. E-cigarettes […] Read More
Few decisions are as important and personal as choosing your home. As we grow older, where we choose to live takes on an even greater level of importance and complexity. As Americans continue to live longer, more seniors are choosing to remain in their homes. According to AARP, ninety percent of seniors want to age […] Read More
Ellis Evictions Under the San Francisco Rent Ordinance The Ellis Act allows a landlord to take a building off the rental market. See Cal. Gov’t Code § 7060. All units in the building are removed from the rental market, even units without tenants. The rental restrictions are on current and all subsequent owners. The landlord […] Read More