How does San Franciscos rent control law affect evictions?
The law strictly limits rent increases for most residential tenants. But it does not restrict the rent for new tenants occupying vacant dwellings. To prevent owners from evicting tenants to create vacancies and increase rents, the law prohibits evictions without “Just Cause”, and recognizes only 14 specific circumstances of Just Cause. This means that once a tenant occupies a rent-controlled dwelling, he/she can stay for life unless a Just Cause situation arises. This eviction protection applies even if the tenant signs a written agreement providing for a month-to-month tenancy, a limited-duration lease, or a specific vacancy date. What buildings are rent-controlled? In general, all dwellings built before 1979 are subject to rent and eviction controls. Single-family homes (without “in-law” units) and condominiums where all tenants moved in on or after January 1, 1996 are exempt from rent increase limits, but are still subject to eviction controls. This exemption does not apply to condo
