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I'm standing in the back of a workshop on "renovictions" hosted by @TenantsUnionSF and @dsa_sf candidate @DeanPreston!
Do you want me to live tweet as I learn about our tenants rights?
Do you want me to live tweet as I learn about our tenants rights?
"Renoviction" is a term for the eviction of all of a building's tenants on the grounds that a large-scale renovation is planned.
They often start with "temporary move outs." Be very skeptical of this! Very few move outs in San Francisco remain temporary.
They often start with "temporary move outs." Be very skeptical of this! Very few move outs in San Francisco remain temporary.
Tenant-occupied buildings are a full 25% to 50% cheaper to purchase than owner-occupied buildings. In investment terms, they're a "better investment." 😔
Until recently, building owners weren’t even required to tell tenants if they were applying for a permit to renovate that could lead to a “temporary” moveout.
They were, however, required to notify neighboring owners in case they were “disturbed by the construction.”
They were, however, required to notify neighboring owners in case they were “disturbed by the construction.”
Two types of renovations that speculators have used to “temporarily move out” tenants include soft story retrofits or construction of an ADU.
“Discretionary review” is a process of appealing a project to the planning commission.
Discretionary review are abused by NIMBY neighborhood associations to appeal new housing near them all the time, but it’s a great tool to use if you’re a tenant facing displacement!
Discretionary review are abused by NIMBY neighborhood associations to appeal new housing near them all the time, but it’s a great tool to use if you’re a tenant facing displacement!
If you’re a tenant facing displacement due to a renovation and you need help, the @TenantsUnionSF can file a discretionary review for you! They’ll cover your costs and can even anonymize it if necessary.
Now we’re learning about “seismic retrofitting!”
In layman’s terms, seismic retrofitting is modifying a building structure so it won’t fall down in an earthquake.
In layman’s terms, seismic retrofitting is modifying a building structure so it won’t fall down in an earthquake.
Ask for a second opinion from @TenantsUnionSF if your landlord tells you you have to move out for seismic retrofitting! These are usually quick construction projects that don’t require any displacement.
Super fucked up: in California tenants are required to pay for seismic retrofitting! In other terms, YOU’RE paying so your landlord’s building doesn’t fall on your head.
Landlords pass these costs through in your rent prices.
Landlords pass these costs through in your rent prices.
If you’re a low income tenant, you can apply for a “hardship exemption” with the Rent Board. The Rent Board may rule that you don’t have to pay the extra rent pass throughs for this construction.
If any of the utilities you’re offered (parking, heat, laundry) are interrupted by construction or just otherwise broken, you should file a “decrease in services petition” with the Rent Board.
The Rent Board will make your landlord give you a discount on rent for the month!
The Rent Board will make your landlord give you a discount on rent for the month!
This is a pro tip. Is your laundry broken? Is your parking spot occupied? Is your wall leaking?
Your landlord is required to give you a discount while the issue persists!
Your landlord is required to give you a discount while the issue persists!
ADU development isn’t an excuse for your landlord to reduce service or displace you.
If your landlord is going to redevelop your garage or storage space into a new unit, you’re not required to agree to this, and you should demand a reduction in rent!
If your landlord is going to redevelop your garage or storage space into a new unit, you’re not required to agree to this, and you should demand a reduction in rent!
An audience member brings up a good idea: we should push for more rights to temporary alternate housing for tenants during construction.
For retired tenants or tenants that work from home, construction can make a building unlivable. Corporate landlords often have empty units.
For retired tenants or tenants that work from home, construction can make a building unlivable. Corporate landlords often have empty units.
The Planning Commission is required to check whether or not a landlord has evicted someone in the past before approving a remodel or construction permit, but they aren’t required to check if existing tenants will be displaced by the construction. This doesn’t make sense!
We need a fix in the Planning Code. The Planning Commission should be fully versed in tenants rights including just cause for eviction, to ensure that tenants are displaced to make room for new development. @AaronPeskin’s office is working on this!
Mike’s right! This is important.
If your landlord displaces you in San Francisco, they’re required to pay you $$. They don’t want to do this, so you have leverage!
If your landlord displaces you in San Francisco, they’re required to pay you $$. They don’t want to do this, so you have leverage!
Building more ADUs is a good thing! In fact, new ADUs are rent controlled, so they’re the only new housing we can build in San Francisco that is rent controlled.
However, these units shouldn’t be built at the expense of existing tenants.
However, these units shouldn’t be built at the expense of existing tenants.
There’s a new effort underway to build a rental registry. This would be a database of existing residential and commercial rentals.
The Planning Commission can’t protect existing tenants if it doesn’t know they’re there!
The Planning Commission can’t protect existing tenants if it doesn’t know they’re there!
Okay, that’s all I’ve got for the day!
If you’re a San Francisco tenant who needs tenants rights resources, check it @TenantsUnionSF. If you’re anywhere in California, @TenantsTogether has got your back.
If you’re a San Francisco tenant who needs tenants rights resources, check it @TenantsUnionSF. If you’re anywhere in California, @TenantsTogether has got your back.
