San Francisco Tenant Attorney | Wrongful Eviction Lawyer San Francisco

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.

A Rare & Outstanding Attorney
Tom Elke has been my primary source of knowledge, direction, and wisdom during two evictions I dealt with regarding a foreclosed single family home I partially rented. When I initially spoke to him, I immediately discerned his intent was to help me compared to the previous lawyers I spoke to. Against the advice of all other attorneys, he respected my intent to fight for my right and generously gave me the time, advise, and strategy to represent myself as pro per. And guess what? I won! Against a bank. There is NO WAY I would have done it without Tom’s help. That said, Tom knows his stuff. I lost a lawsuit I perused totally against his advise. I was humiliated by the judge for disregarding Tom’s advise, but I accept that I was wrong and Tom was right in all regards when he said “you can’t”. He’s thorough, kind, generous, and kick-your-teeth-in direct. You may not like what he has to say sometimes, but he’s the BEST lawyer I have ever worked with. Though his paid services as a counselor are limited, I recommend him for both attorney and counselor.

Herlinda, A Real Estate Client,
Super Lawyer
Mr. Elke is a very professional in his field and is a straight forward lawyer. I was very satisfied having such a knowledgeable lawyer on my side who was able to drive the process to successful results.

Eden, A Landlord & Tenant Client,
Superb Attorney
Tom and Alex Merchant were always very prompt to answer my questions. They both attended the settlement conference to great results. I was able to keep my accommodation for two more months and was compensated beyond my expectation.

Landlord & Tenant Client,
Tom Elke
I called Tom for advice when my landlord sent me a 60-day notice to terminate my tenancy. He’s been extremely responsive, thoughtful, and reassuring. During my free consultation he poured over the details of multiple legal documents and gave me specific, actionable advice. His guidance has helped me navigate through this challenging time.

Darren,
Superb with a Smile
Tom Elke is a superb lawyer. I sought counseltation when opening a small business recently. He was extremely knowledgable and was always quick to reply to any questions or concerns I had. He is thorough, sharp, and professional.

Lisa Marie, A Business Client,

Call Today for a Consultation — (415) 294-4111

Tenants Assisted

Evictions Prevented

Years Experience

dollars Recovered for Our Clients

Tenant News

What if I can’t afford an experienced San Francisco tenant lawyer like you?

March 23, 2018

Almost every case we take, and certainly almost every wrongful eviction case, is taken on a contingency fee basis. This means that you would not ever pay us a dime in attorney’s fees unless we recover an amount for you.

Owner Move-In Fraud

March 13, 2018

Owner move-in fraud occurs when an owner of a residential property in a rent control jurisdiction in the Bay Area, typically San Francisco, Oakland or Berkeley, gives a notice of eviction to a tenant and evicts a tenant falsely stating that the dominant motive of their eviction is to physically move into the rental unit themselves. Often, it is just a ploy to get rid of a long-term tenant who is paying below market rent, to either re-rent the unit at a much higher rate or sell the property without a tenant in it. Properties that are sold without tenants… CONTINUE

Oakland Extends Rent Control Protections to Owner-Occupied Duplexes and Triplexes

March 1, 2019

Oakland passed an emergency ordinance that temporarily extends rent control protections to owner-occupied duplexes and triplexes. The ordinance, which limits rent increases to 3.4%, will be in effect for 180 days while the City Council considers more a permanent measure. Prior to this emergency ordinance, under Section 8.22.030(A)(8) of the Oakland Rent Ordinance, duplexes and triplexes were exempt from rent control if the owner resided in the building as his or her principal residence. This meant that a rent-controlled tenant in a duplex or triplex could lose rent control protections if the owner moved into the building. Last year, Oakland… CONTINUE

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