Starting October 6, 2025, tenants’ rights organizations will also be able to file civil lawsuits to enforce the prohibition against Algorithmic Devices.

Currently, under Rent Ordinance Section 37.10C, landlords are currently prohibited from using “algorithmic ...

Update to Algorithmic Devices Law

The San Francisco Rent Board has moved to 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94102 on March ...

The San Francisco Rent Board has moved

Beginning April 1, 2025, landlords are required to provide photographic evidence before or at the beginning of the tenancy, and if the landlord withholds part of a tenant’s security deposit for repairs or cleaning.

Changes to Security Deposit laws - Photograph RequirementsCalifornia Assembly Bill 2801 now requires ...

Upcoming changes to Security Deposit laws - Photograph requirements

The rate of interest owed on deposits for the period March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026 is 5.0%.

The rate of interest owed on deposits for the period March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026 is 5.0%.The ...

New Interest Rate for Security Deposits Effective 3/1/25

AB-2347 changes the response time for tenants served with a UD complaint from five days to ten days.

AB-2347 changes the response time for tenants served with a UD complaint from five days to ten days, ...

Unlawful Detainers will require a 10 day response starting January 1, 2025

Ordinance No. 248-24 changes the new construction date in the Rent Ordinance, but only if Costa-Hawkins is repealed or amended to allow the City to do so.

Rent Ordinance Section 37.3 was amended effective November 24, 2024. Ordinance No. 248-24 changes the new ...

Rent Ordinance Section 37.3 was amended effective November 24, 2024.

For rent-controlled units, the annual allowable increase amount effective March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026 is 1.4%.

For rent-controlled units, the annual allowable increase amount effective March 1, 2025 through February 28, ...

Annual Rent Increase for 3/1/25 - 2/28/26 Announced

New law prohibits the sale or use of algorithmic devices to set rents or manage occupancy levels for residential units in San Francisco.

Legislation adding Section 37.10C to the Rent Ordinance went into effect on October 14, 2024. The law ...

New law prohibits algorithmic devices used to set rents in San Francisco

Court of Appeal Invalidates 10-Day Warning Notice Legislation.

On September 11, 2024, the California Court of Appeal issued a decision in San Francisco Apartment Assoc. et ...

Court of Appeal Invalidates 10-Day Warning Notice Legislation - Update #3

The way General Obligation Bond Passthroughs are calculated has changed.
 
In addition, Tenant Financial Hardship Applications used to only apply to some of the Passthrough. Now, it applies to the whole Passthrough.

Legislation recently passed that amends the Rent Ordinance to provide that General Obligation Bond ...

New Ordinance Amendments Regarding General Obligation Bond Passthroughs

Requires that where an owner obtains an exemption from the Conditional Use Authorization requirement to remove an unauthorized unit from a qualifying single-family home, the single-family home shall be subject to the rent increase limitations of the Rent Ordinance.

Effective April 28, 2024, the Board of Supervisors enacted legislation amending various sections of the San ...

New Ordinance Amendments Regarding Unauthorized Dwelling Units (UDU)

AB 12 amends California Civil Code Section 1950.5 to limit the maximum security deposit for a dwelling unit to one month's rent, regardless of whether the unit is furnished or unfurnished.

California Assembly Bill 12 (AB 12) was passed by the State Legislature and signed by Governor Newsom on ...

Security Deposit laws are changing on July 1, 2024

The rate of interest owed on deposits for the period March 1, 2024 through February 28, 2025 is 5.2%.

The rate of interest owed on deposits for the period March 1, 2024 through February 28, 2025 is 5.2%.The ...

New Interest Rate for Security Deposits Effective 3/1/24

For rent-controlled units, the annual allowable increase amount effective March 1, 2024 through February 28, 2025 is 1.7%.

For rent-controlled units, the annual allowable increase amount effective March 1, 2024 through February 28, ...

Annual Rent Increase for 3/1/24 - 2/28/25 Announced

A tenant can have a tenant association representative present during the meetings with the landlord. Landlords must remain in attendance at meetings of the full tenant association until the end of the meeting (up
to two hours). Additional clarifying definitions have been added.

Ord No. 203-23 amends Admin Code Chapter 49A and is effective on November 12, 2023.Existing LawTenants in a ...

New Ordinance Amendments Regarding Tenant Associations

Buildings where the owner has obtained tax-exempt multifamily revenue bonds are not automatically exempt from the rent increase limitations of the Rent Ordinance.

Legislation recently passed that amended the definition of “rental unit” in Rent Ordinance Section ...

New Ordinance Amendments Regarding Exempt Units

The local eviction moratorium was extended to cover rent payments that come due within 60 days after the Mayor's COVID-19 emergency proclamation ends, and to include units where the rent is controlled or regulated by the City. Since the Mayor's Proclamation of Local Emergency is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2023, these protections are extended through August 29, 2023 (60-days after June 30, 2023) but will not apply to rent payments that become due on or after August 30, 2023.

Read below for some background on the local eviction moratorium for pandemic-impacted tenants and a summary ...

Local Eviction Protections for Non-Payment of Rent During COVID-19 Extended Through August 29, 2023

On May 2, 2023, the California Court of Appeal issued an unpublished decision affirming the lower court's ruling that invalidated subsections (c) and (i) of the Amended Buyout Ordinance.

Effective April 6, 2020, the Board of Supervisors amended Rent Ordinance Section 37.9E (the “Amended Buyout ...

Update - Court of Appeal Decision re 2020 Amendments to the Buyout Ordinance

A new law passed by the City and County of San Francisco requires all residential property owners to provide certain information to the Rent Board about their property each year. In addition, the law creates new licensing requirements for landlords.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Wednesday, February 1, 2023Contact: Christina Varner, Executive Director ...

San Francisco Rent Board Reminds Property Owners of the March 1st Housing Inventory Reporting Deadline

The rate of interest owed on deposits for the period March 1, 2023 through February 29, 2024 is 2.3%.

The rate of interest owed on deposits for the period March 1, 2023 through February 29, 2024 is 2.3%.The ...

New Interest Rate for Security Deposits Effective 3/1/23

After a public hearing on December 13, 2022, the Rent Board’s Rules and Regulations were amended by the Rent Board's Commission to add Section 2.21, titled “Parental Leave Policy”.

After a public hearing on December 13, 2022, the Rent Board’s Rules and Regulations were amended by the Rent ...

Rent Board Amends the Rules and Regulations to incorporate the City's Parental Leave Policy for Commissioners

For rent-controlled units, the annual allowable increase amount effective March 1, 2023 through February 29, 2024 is 3.6%.

For rent-controlled units, the annual allowable increase amount effective March 1, 2023 through February 29, ...

Annual Rent Increase for 3/1/23 - 2/29/24 Announced

Ordinance No. 18-22, which became effective on March 14, 2022, requires landlords pursuing certain types of evictions to first provide the tenant a written 10-day warning letter and an opportunity to cure before serving a formal eviction notice.

Update #3 (September 11, 2024)Court of Appeal Invalidates 10-Day Warning Notice Legislation.Update #2 ...

City Appeals Superior Court Order Enjoining Enforcement of 10-Day Warning Notice Legislation - Update #2 (09/27/22)

The Board of Supervisors and Mayor of San Francisco recently passed legislation that amends the San Francisco Rent Ordinance regarding Ellis Act evictions. The legislation is effective on July 18, 2022.

BackgroundThe Ellis Act, found in California Government Code Section 7060, et seq., gives rental property ...

New Legislation Regarding Ellis Act Evictions

Varner was born and raised in San Francisco and currently serves as Acting Executive Director of the Rent Board, after previously serving as its Deputy Director.

San Francisco, CA —Mayor London N. Breed today announced the appointment of Christina Varner to serve as the ...

Mayor London Breed Appoints Christina Varner to Serve as Executive Director of San Francisco Rent Board

After a public hearing on July 12, 2022, the Rent Board’s Rules and Regulations were amended by the Rent Board's Commission to add Part 13, titled “Reporting Obligations Under Rent Ordinance Section 37.15”.

After a public hearing on July 12, 2022, the Rent Board’s Rules and Regulations were amended by the Rent ...

Rent Board Amends the Rules and Regulations re Housing Inventory Reporting Requirements

The Board of Supervisors and Mayor of San Francisco recently passed legislation that gives tenants enhanced rights to organize within their buildings (informally referred to as the “Tenant Right-To-Organize legislation” or "Tenant-At-Home Ordinance").

The Board of Supervisors and Mayor of San Francisco recently passed legislation that gives tenants enhanced ...

New legislation on tenant organizing and tenant associations

Ordinance No. 18-22, which became effective on March 14, 2022, requires landlords pursuing certain types of evictions to first provide the tenant a written warning letter and an opportunity to cure.

Update #3: (September 11, 2024)Court of Appeal Invalidates 10-Day Warning Notice Legislation.Update #2: ...

New legislation requires landlords pursuing certain evictions to first provide the tenant a written warning letter and 10-day period to cure (update #1 - 3/14/22)

New legislation requires property owners who intend to construct an ADU under the City’s Local Program to first provide the building tenants a Notice of Addition of ADU(s), which describes the proposed ADU project.

Ordinance No. 208-21, which became effective on December 12, 2021, amends Planning Code Section 207(c)(4) to ...

New legislation on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

Effective March 1, 2022 through February 28, 2023, the allowable annual increase amount is 2.3%.

Effective March 1, 2022 through February 28, 2023, the allowable annual increase amount is 2.3%. In ...

Annual rent increase for 3/1/22-2/28/23 announced

On November 30, 2020, the Rent Ordinance was amended to prohibit landlords from evicting residential tenants until April 1, 2021 (extended to September 30, 2021), unless the eviction is based on the non-payment of rent, the Ellis Act, or is necessary due to violence or safety.

On November 30, 2020, Rent Ordinance Section 37.9 was amended pursuant to Ord. No. 216-20 to prohibit ...

Residential eviction protections due to COVID-19 extended through 12/31/21

A new law requires owners of residential housing units in San Francisco to begin reporting certain information about their units to the Rent Board on an annual basis.

Ordinance No. 265-20, which became effective on January 18, 2021, requires owners of residential housing ...

New Legislation Creates A Housing Inventory And Requires Owners To Obtain a License Before Imposing Annual/Banked Rent Increases

This section includes an archive of past news briefs beginning on June 28, 1996.

Click here to view an archive of past news ...