In 2007, our landlord attempted to evict us by raising our rent 500%, thinking that we would just leave. The SF Tenants Union gave us the tools we needed to go forth and fight this illegal increase. The Rent Board sided with us. But, after continued legal harassment (3 separate legal actions) by our landlord, two years later he got us out on the Ellis Act during settlement. This time of our lives was stressful for me, my partner and my teen aged children (who were also named in the lawsuit and verbally harassed in our home). We came out slightly ahead financially, but the emotional toll is indescribable. Our landlord claimed to move into the home himself. We know for a fact that he did some remodeling and it remains empty until he can sell it. He lives out of state. Our total cost of the case was over $200K. We fully support efforts to revamp the Ellis Act.
