What to know
Above all, don’t move out! You have rights and free legal and financial help is available. Visit our community partners page to find a community partner near you.
The government actions described below are difficult to understand. If you receive eviction documents, you should immediately seek free legal help from the Eviction Defense Collaborative at (415) 659-9184 or legal@evictiondefense.org, or visit EDC at 972 Mission St., 1st Floor, on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, 10-11:30 am and 1-2:30 pm. If you need advice about a specific situation, you can also contact the Rent Board, a mediator, or a tenant counselor listed under our community partners page.
Please keep in mind, rent is still owed – it has not been forgiven or cancelled. The eviction legal process moves quickly, so do not delay. Contact EDC to get free legal help as soon as possible. Financial assistance may be available if you are in court facing eviction.
Local Eviction Protections for Tenants Beginning July 1, 2022
Landlords and tenants should be aware that Mayor Breed signed legislation that prohibits landlords from evicting residential tenants for non-payment of rent that originally came due on or after July 1, 2022 and was not paid due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is still ongoing. It also prohibits landlords from imposing late fees, penalties, or similar charges on tenants who are unable to pay their post-July 2022 rent due to COVID-19.
Please note that pandemic-impacted tenants with past-due rent that came due between July 1, 2022 and the end of the local state of emergency are permanently protected against eviction for non-payment of rent that came due during this period of time, even after the Mayor terminates her COVID-19 Emergency Proclamation.
This legislation does not protect tenants against eviction if the rental debt was incurred prior to July 1, 2022.
I could not pay rent between March 1 - August 31, 2020
AB 832 permanently prohibits evictions for nonpayment of rent between March 1 - August 31, 2020. The landlord cannot evict but can take the tenant to small claims court starting November 1, 2021 for any rent that is still unpaid. AB 832 requires the tenant to provide landlord with a signed declaration in response to a 15-day notice.
I could not pay rent between September 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021
AB-2179 permanently prohibits evictions for nonpayment of rent between September 2020-September 2021. The landlord cannot evict but can take the tenant to small claims court starting November 1, 2021 for any rent that is still unpaid. AB-2179 requires the tenant to provide landlord with a signed declaration in response to a 15-day notice, AND to pay at least 25% of the missed rent by September 30, 2021 (can be lump-sum).