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Tenant Rights Attorneys

Berkeley tenants have many of the same tenant’s rights as tenants living in San Francisco. However, there are key differences that Berkeley tenants need to be aware of. Berkeley has its own Rent Ordinance, Measure EE.

Be sure to consult with a Berkeley tenant lawyer or tenant’s rights advocate to understand how these rules apply to your housing situation. Contact our firm today to schedule your consultation.

50+

years of experience in representing tenants.

Understanding Evictions and Your Rights Under Berkeley’s Rent Ordinance

Berkeley’s legal framework requires landlords to meticulously adhere to both state and local laws when pursuing an eviction. Failure to comply can lead tenants to not only successfully contest these evictions but also possibly receive substantial damages.

Legal Requirements for Eviction Notices

In Berkeley, eviction notices must explicitly state one of the permissible “good causes” for eviction, adhere to registration requirements, and ensure the rental property meets habitability standards. Additionally, starting any tenancy post-April 2017 requires landlords to provide tenants with a Notice of Tenant Protection Ordinance.

Protection Against Wrongful Evictions

Good cause is necessary for eviction and includes reasons like non-payment of rent, lease violations, substantial damage by the tenant, or the landlord’s need to undertake significant repairs. Importantly, certain actions, like the sale of the property or the mere expiration of a rental agreement, do not constitute good cause.

Tenant Rights During Property Conversions

Berkeley’s ordinance also protects tenants in properties being converted to condominiums or tenancies-in-common (TICs). Tenants have the right to continue renting or to purchase their unit, and evictions are typically only justified if the property owner or a qualifying relative moves in.

Substantial Repairs and Tenant Relocation

When substantial repairs necessitate tenant relocation, Berkeley requires landlords to obtain all necessary permits and, if other units are available, offer them to the displaced tenant temporarily or permanently. The City’s Relocation Ordinance also mandates financial assistance for tenants displaced during repairs.

Why Choose Wolford Wayne for Your Eviction Defense in Berkeley?

Wolford Wayne is committed to protecting the rights of Berkeley renters seeking a tenant lawyer to sue their landlord for wrongful eviction. If you suspect your eviction does not comply with both state and local regulations, or if you’ve been victim to an illegal eviction practice, our expertise in tenant law can provide the robust defense you deserve. Reach out to Wolford Wayne to ensure your rights are defended effectively in the face of wrongful eviction.

$2 Million

Recovered on behalf of a South Bay Family after an apartment fire caused severe burns to a minor due to the lack of fire safety equipment.

$ 1.56 Million

Recovered on behalf of a group of 30 tenants living in an SRO in San Francisco who were living with horrendous conditions in their rent controlled apartments, including rodents, bedbugs, mold, water leaks, and harassment.

$1.3 Million

Recovered on behalf of a group of tenants living in an SRO in San Francisco dealing with negligent management, pest infestations and poor living conditions.

$1 Million

Recovered on behalf of a San Francisco family who were forced out of their long term home due to toxic mold and bad living conditions.

$ 850,000

Recovered on behalf of a San Francisco tenant who suffered personal injuries and was forced to vacate his home of fifteen years after dealing with many months of environmental contamination and disruptive and nuisance construction conditions.

$ 800,000

Recovered on behalf of an Oakland tenant who suffered a serious injury due to her landlord’s negligent maintenance of her home.

$ 750,000

Recovered on behalf of a couple living in a rent-controlled home in the outer Sunset neighborhood. Our clients were forced to vacate after the landlord served them with an Owner Move-In Eviction Notice. After the landlords failed to move into the property, our clients filed suit for wrongful eviction.

$ 700,000

Recovered for a long-term tenant in San Francisco. Our client was forced to move out of his apartment as a result of extreme landlord harassment.

$ 575,000

Recovered on behalf of a San Francisco couple who were forced to give up their home of over twenty years after their landlord’s dog attacked and killed their dog.

$ 575,000

Recovered on behalf of an elderly, disabled San Francisco tenant who was forced to move out of her rent-controlled San Francisco apartment of 50 years after the landlord/owner failed to resolve numerous building code violations that remained outstanding for over a decade.

$ 560,000

Recovered on behalf of two San Francisco tenants who were wrongfully evicted via a fraudulent owner move-in eviction where the owner failed to occupy the property as their principal place of residence.

$ 550,000

Recovered on behalf of a San Francisco tenant who was forced to vacate his home as a result of ongoing, disruptive construction and the owner’s refusal to provide him with alternative housing.

$ 525,000

Recovered on behalf of a tenant living in an illegal unit who was wrongfully evicted. Our client was forced to vacate under false pretenses while her landlord undertook supposedly necessary construction and then was never allowed to return.

$ 450,000

Recovered for a San Francisco tenant who was injured when her stairway railing collapsed.

$ 450,000

Recovered in action for a group of tenants forced to vacate their San Francisco apartment due to severe habitability defects, including mold and water leaks.

$ 395,000

Recovered on behalf of two long term San Francisco tenants who were fraudulently evicted from their home of over twenty years under the pretext of an owner move-in eviction.

$ 375,000

Recovered on behalf of a San Francisco family that was constructively evicted from their home in the Richmond District as a result of unlawful rent increases, defective conditions, and tenant harassment.

$ 375,000

Recovered on behalf of an elderly long-term tenant who was forced to vacate her long San Francisco apartment as a result of her landlord’s refusal to address longstanding defective conditions, including lack of heat, mold, rodent infestations, and defective plumbing.

$ 325,000

Recovered on behalf of seven tenants living in a makeshift boarding house in East Palo Alto.

$ 300,000

Recovered on behalf of three families living in a building in San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood who were forced to live with substandard conditions for years as a result of their landlord’s negligence, including issues with lack of heat, lack of hot water, and cockroach/rat infestations.

$ 300,000

Recovered on behalf of a San Francisco tenant in Russian Hill. The tenant was forced to vacate her illegal apartment in retaliation for reporting unlawful rent increases to the San Francisco Rent Board. Our client was forced to vacate after her landlord served our client with a series of eviction notices and told her the apartment was unsafe to live in.

$ 300,000

Recovered on behalf of three long-term tenants in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood who were constructively evicted due to noise and nuisance conditions created by their downstairs neighbors, which the owner refused to address.

Awards & Associations

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For more information or to discuss your legal situation, call us today at (415) 649-6203 for a phone consultation or submit an inquiry below. Please note our firm can only assist tenants residing in the Bay Area.