TENANT LAWYERS
AGGRESSIVE. DEDICATED. PROVEN RESULTS.
Wrongful Eviction
Elke & Merchant LLP are experienced wrongful eviction lawyers dedicated to protecting tenant rights throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Failure to Repair
All tenants have the basic right to live in a safe and habitable home. If your landlord refuses to make necessary repairs, you have rights.
Landlord Harassment
It is illegal under both state and local law for a landlord to harass you or discriminate against you as a tenant.
Tenant Lawyers
San Francisco Tenant Lawyers Who Will Fight For You
Elke & Merchant LLP are experienced tenant lawyers dedicated to protecting tenant rights throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. We represent tenants in all types of actions against landlords, including eviction defense, Rent Board petitions, and affirmative lawsuits related to wrongful eviction, harassment, and habitability issues.
Tom Elke and Alex Merchant have helped clients secure millions of dollars and tried over twenty-five jury trials to verdict.
We only represent tenants. Never landlords.
Tenant News
San Francisco Moves to Extend Eviction Moratorium through September 30, 2021
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held a first vote to approve extending the eviction moratorium an additional three months. If the legislation passes a second vote (as expected), the new end date for the eviction moratorium will be September 30, 2021. The eviction moratorium prohibits a landlord from endeavoring to recover possession of a rental unit while the moratorium is in place, unless the eviction is necessary due to violence, threats of violence, or health and safety issues. The eviction moratorium does not apply to Ellis Act evictions or evictions due to unpaid rent during the Covid emergency. Evictions… CONTINUE
Read MoreNew Relocation Payment Amounts for San Francisco No-Fault Evictions
The San Francisco Rent Board has published updated relocation payment amounts for certain no-fault evictions. For eviction notices served between March 1, 2021 and February 28, 2022, the relocation amount due per tenant is $7,414, with a cap of $22,240, plus $4,943 if the household has a minor child, plus $4,943 for each person who is 60 years of age or older or is disabled within the meaning of Government Code section 12955.3. There is no cap on the amount paid for being elderly, disabled, or a household with a minor child. Thus, the total relocation payment can exceed $22,240. For example, a… CONTINUE
Read MoreSF Rent Board Announces Annual Allowable Rent Increase Will Be 0.7%
The San Francisco Rent Board announced the annual allowable rent increase for rent increases that go into effect between March 1, 2021 and February 28, 2022. The annual allowable rent increase for San Francisco tenants covered by the rent control protections of the San Francisco Rent Ordinance will be 0.7%. This amount is calculated as 60% of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose region, which was 1.1%. The annual allowable limit for rent increases that went into effect between March 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021 is 1.8%. Note that the annual… CONTINUE
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