Landlord Harassment Attorneys in San Francisco
It is illegal for a landlord to harass a tenant. Unfortunately, landlord harassment still happens. Generally, the landlord is hoping their harassment will get the tenant to move out of a rent-controlled apartment. They are also hoping that their tenant won't seek legal counsel and fight back. This type of intimidation is wrong, and Tenant Law Group is committed to putting a stop to it.
Examples of unlawful behavior include:
- Threatening to disclose citizenship status
- Unlawfully entering the unit
- Taking or removing a tenant’s property from the unit
Examples of Landlord Harassment
Other examples of landlord harassment include failing to perform maintenance or repairs, not remedying an uninhabitable situation (such as a pest infestation), and attempting to get a tenant to vacate through fraud or coercion.
What Damages Can I Seek?
- Loss of use of a rent-controlled apartment
- A partial or full refund of rent paid
- Mandatory relocation payments
- Out-of-pocket expenses, such as moving or medical expenses
- Damaged or destroyed property, such as property suffering water damage
- Lost wages
- Bodily injury
- Mental and emotional harm, such as fear, anxiety, and depression
Proving Landlord Retaliation in California
If you feel as though your landlord has harassed you or retaliated against you in any way, be sure to communicate with your landlord first to clarify if there was a misunderstanding or miscommunication. Accusing a landlord with harassment is very serious.
Be sure to keep all your records organized so it is easily accessible. Have copies of agreements, notices, and letters handy -- never give original documents or photos away. Finally, don’t forget to keep names and contact information of your witnesses.
We Are Committed to Social Justice
Tenant Law Group is dedicated to the ideal that all members of our community, regardless of financial resources, are entitled to effective legal representation. While our clients include renters from all backgrounds, we are especially dedicated to the most vulnerable renters in the Bay Area community —namely, the indigent, the elderly, immigrants, blue-collar workers, and individuals with disabilities.Our landlord tenant lawyers in San Francisco take a holistic approach to tenant rights law, and we believe in providing clients with compassionate legal representation that considers their whole life.
| To-Do | Step |
|---|---|
| Document all interactions with your landlord. Include dates, times, and what was stated. | 1 |
| Inform your landlord that you feel harassed and want it to stop. Keep a copy for your records. | 2 |
| Have a witness with you at all times when you are interacting with your landlord. | 3 |
| Contact law enforcement if you feel as though your life is in danger. | 4 |