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COVID-19 emergency tenant protections

If you can pay your rent, you should do so. However, if you cannot pay and your landlord tries to evict you, these protections may safeguard you against eviction.

What to know

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

If you receive eviction documents, immediately seek free legal help from the Eviction Defense Collaborative (EDC) at (415) 659-9184 or legal@evictiondefense.org, or visit EDC at 972 Mission St., 1st Floor, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday, 10-11:30 am and 1-2:30 pm. If you need advice about a specific situation, contact the Rent Board, a mediator, or a tenant counselor listed under our community partners page. 

Please keep in mind, rent is still owed – it has not been forgiven or cancelled. The eviction legal process moves quickly, so do not delay. Contact EDC to get free legal help as soon as possible. Financial assistance may be available if you are in court facing eviction.

Local Eviction Protections for Tenants Beginning July 1, 2022

Landlords and tenants should be aware that Mayor Breed signed legislation 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.

Please note that pandemic-impacted tenants with past-due rent that came due between July 1, 2022 and August 29, 2023 (60 days after the end of the Mayor’s Proclamation of Local Emergency) are permanently protected against eviction for non-payment of rent that came due during this period. These protections will not apply to rent that comes due on or after August 30, 2023.

This legislation does not protect tenants against eviction if the rental debt was incurred prior to July 1, 2022.

While tenants may be protected from eviction, the rental debt is still owed – it is not forgiven. For rental debt legal help, contact Bay Area Legal Aid at (415) 982-1300 to schedule an appointment.