Get help if you might be evicted

If you are facing eviction, do not delay: Get free legal help at the Eviction Defense Collaborative at (415) 659-9184, legal@evictiondefense.org, or visit EDC at 972 Mission St. Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, 10-11:30 am and 1-2:30 pm.  See below for additional eviction protections.

If you need help negotiating a payment plan with your landlord or master tenant, get free mediation help at the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Conflict Intervention Service (CIS) at (415) 782-8940 or cis@sfbar.org.

Current Eviction Protections

Above all, don’t move out! You have rights and free legal and financial help is available. Visit our Rent Relief Resources page to find a community-based partner near you.

The government actions described below are difficult to understand. If you receive eviction documents, you should immediately contact the Eviction Defense Collaborative at (415) 659-9184 or legal@evictiondefense.org, or visit EDC at 972 Mission St., 1st Floor, on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, 10-11:30 am and 1-2:30 pm. They will connect you to an attorney. If you need advice about a specific situation, you can also contact the Rent Board, a mediator, or a tenant counselor for more information. 

Please keep in mind, rent is still owed – it has not been forgiven or cancelled. You should respond to any nonpayment notice from a landlord before it expires and apply for rental assistance as soon as possible.

New Local Eviction Protections for Tenants Beginning July 1, 2022

Landlords and tenants should be aware that Mayor Breed signed legislation, passed unanimously by the Board of Supervisors, that prohibits landlords from evicting residential tenants for non-payment of rent that originally came due on or after July 1, 2022 and was not paid due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also prohibits landlords from imposing late fees, penalties, or similar charges on tenants who are unable to pay their post-July 2022 rent due to COVID-19. These protections shall remain in place until the Mayor terminates her COVID-19 Emergency Proclamation. Please note that this legislation does not protect tenants against eviction if the rental debt was incurred prior to July 1, 2022.

I could not pay rent between March 1 - August 31, 2020

AB 832 prohibits evictions for nonpayment of rent for these months. The landlord cannot evict, but can take the tenant to small claims court starting November 1, 2021 for any rent that is still unpaid.  AB 832 requires the tenant to provide landlord a signed declaration in response to a 15-day notice. 

I could not pay rent between September 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021

For rent due between September 2020-September 2021, AB-2179 prohibits evictions for nonpayment of rent, and allows the landlord to take the tenant to small claims court starting November 1, 2021 for any rent that is still unpaid. AB-2179 requires the tenant to give the landlord signed declaration(s) in response to 15-day notice(s),  AND by September 30, 2021 to pay at least 25% of the missed rent from September 2020-September 2021 rents (can be lump-sum).

Contact the Eviction Defense Collaborative if you are facing eviction!

The eviction legal process moves quickly, so do not delay: contact the Eviction Defense Collaborative at (415) 659-9184 or legal@evictiondefense.org to get free legal help as soon as possible.