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San Francisco Tenant Resources

San Francisco Tenants Union

Fighting for tenants’ rights since 1970, the SFTU provides the best Web site and organization for San Francisco tenants, offering virtually everything you need to know. Whether you are having issues with your landlord or not, there is no better investment to protect your rights than to join the San Francisco Tenants Union.

San Francisco Rent Board

The official Web site of the San Francisco Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Board contains links to the ordinance, rules and regulations, allowable rent increases, interest rates on security deposits, procedure and forms to file a petition against your landlord and much more.

San Francisco Department of Building Inspection

The official Web site of the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI) includes information on how to file complaints, whom to call with questions, and a useful Online Permit and Complaint Tracking feature to research your own building.

Causa Justa/Just Cause

Causa Justa :: Just Cause (CJJC) provides free tenant counseling and case management for low-income residents of Oakland and San Francisco through their Housing Committee/Tenants’ Rights Clinic.

Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco

The Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco is a nonprofit, community-based organization founded in 1979. Its mission is to empower tenants to secure fundamental rights to habitable and widely affordable housing in San Francisco.

Eviction Defense Collaborative

The Eviction Defense Collaborative provides counseling and legal help to tenants during the eviction process. Programs include preparing a response to the lawsuit, limited representation at the settlement conference, and preparation of requests for delays of the sheriff’s eviction. The Rental Assistance Program provides one-time, no-interest loans to tenants at risk of losing their residence and becoming homeless.

East Bay Tenant Resources

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board

The official Web site of the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board contains the Berkeley rent control ordinance, rules and procedures, allowable rent increases, information to file a petition against your landlord, suggestions for recovering your security deposit, and much more.

Berkeley Tenants Union

The Berkeley Tenants Union is dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of Berkeley renters through grassroots organizing, outreach, and policy advocacy. We believe housing is a human right and rent stabilization is Berkeley’s most effective affordable housing program.

Causa Justa/Just Cause

Causa Justa :: Just Cause (CJJC) provides free tenant counseling and case management for low-income residents of Oakland and San Francisco through their Housing Committee/Tenants’ Rights Clinic.

East Bay Community Law Center

Defending low income tenants who are being evicted, representing tenants in housing subsidy termination proceedings, and engaging in strategic affirmative litigation aimed at forcing landlords to maintain their rental properties in a habitable condition.

Oakland Rent Adjustment Board

The official Web site of the Oakland Rent Adjustment Board contains Oakland’s Rent Control Ordinance, Rules and Procedures, allowable rent increases, information to file a petition against your landlord and much more.

Santa Cruz Tenant Resources

Santa Cruz Tenant’s Association

The Santa Cruz Tenant’s Association seeks to educate, counsel, organize and empower Santa Cruz County tenants. All tenants are welcome to join as members. Offers phone counseling and  “know your rights meetings” for groups by request. Spanish language assistance available.

California Tenant Resources

Tenants Together

Tenants Together works to improve the lives of California’s tenants through education, organizing and advocacy. Tenants Together seeks to galvanize a statewide movement for renters’ rights.

California Tenant Law

A comprehensive website that discusses tenant issues from A-Z. Informative articles with comprehensive listing of legal services for tenants.

General Legal Resources

California Law 

The Legislative Counsel of California provides all 29 codes of California Law, each searchable by keyword.

San Francisco Municipal Codes

Provided by American Legal Publishing, the Municipal Codes contain the City Charter, Administrative Code (which contains the Rent Control ordinance) and other relevant San Francisco codes like the San Francisco Police Code.

California Courts Self Help Center

“Find assistance and information, work better with an attorney, and represent yourself in some legal matters.” A helpful site to get the basics for small claims cases.