Comments on: Did landlord negligence cause the fire that is forcing these residents to leave the city? http://www.missionmission.org/2012/08/08/did-landlord-negligence-cause-the-fire-that-is-forcing-these-residents-to-leave-the-city/ Saluting San Francisco's Mission District Tue, 05 May 2026 21:20:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6.1 By: Sally Flash http://www.missionmission.org/2012/08/08/did-landlord-negligence-cause-the-fire-that-is-forcing-these-residents-to-leave-the-city/#comment-60769 Sally Flash Thu, 23 Aug 2012 16:44:32 +0000 http://www.missionmission.org/?p=42070#comment-60769 The landlord’s behavior was unacceptable. But the current rent control situation in San Francisco makes behavior like this common. Maintaining a building properly is expensive and one is getting rents that are way below market it is a disincentive to invest a lot in a building. And while in this case the tenants NEED the low rent, there is no mechanism that provides for making sure that those who are paying the low rents are those that actually need it. And as the displaced tenants are finding out, finding a new place with affordable rent is not easy. The system is broken.

If we overhauled rent control – taxed ALL landlords a percentage of the their rental income, used that to create a fund that supplemented the rent of people who need assistance based on their incomes, then we could fix a lot of what is wrong with the current system.

]]> By: JJ http://www.missionmission.org/2012/08/08/did-landlord-negligence-cause-the-fire-that-is-forcing-these-residents-to-leave-the-city/#comment-59907 JJ Thu, 09 Aug 2012 00:01:18 +0000 http://www.missionmission.org/?p=42070#comment-59907 I had a similar situation with a totally flooded apartment in a slumlord apartment just two years ago.

If you have renters insurance, the Rent Board will be little help. My advice: Get a lawyer. All my problems were solved when they gave my landlord a list of demands. I ended up getting 3 months of hotel stay and all moving/storage and cleanup costs reimbursed.

Best of luck.

]]> By: GG http://www.missionmission.org/2012/08/08/did-landlord-negligence-cause-the-fire-that-is-forcing-these-residents-to-leave-the-city/#comment-59889 GG Wed, 08 Aug 2012 20:56:30 +0000 http://www.missionmission.org/?p=42070#comment-59889 Exactly. Especially when something is a safety violation, take pictures, send fix-it requests to the landlord by e-mail if possible (so you have a record), if you send the landlord a letter send it registered mail, etc. It doesn’t take much time to document this sort of thing, and yes, the chance is remote that you’ll ever need it — but you’ll be very glad you’ve got it if you DO need it.

]]> By: Your neighbor http://www.missionmission.org/2012/08/08/did-landlord-negligence-cause-the-fire-that-is-forcing-these-residents-to-leave-the-city/#comment-59884 Your neighbor Wed, 08 Aug 2012 20:10:39 +0000 http://www.missionmission.org/?p=42070#comment-59884 Is your landlord’s name Virginia Lopez by any chance?

]]> By: Matthew http://www.missionmission.org/2012/08/08/did-landlord-negligence-cause-the-fire-that-is-forcing-these-residents-to-leave-the-city/#comment-59877 Matthew Wed, 08 Aug 2012 18:40:46 +0000 http://www.missionmission.org/?p=42070#comment-59877 I agree with “lawyer up”. You may have some claims here, and it’s a good idea to consult with an attorney. I suggest starting with the Lawyer Referral Service at the Bar Association of San Francisco.

http://www.sfbar.org/lawyerreferrals/index.aspx

I’m also happy to talk with you at (415) 735-6856. I’m a former non-profit attorney in San Francisco who has years of experience taking on negligent landlords. http://www.brinegarlawsf.com

]]> By: TKSF http://www.missionmission.org/2012/08/08/did-landlord-negligence-cause-the-fire-that-is-forcing-these-residents-to-leave-the-city/#comment-59875 TKSF Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:44:14 +0000 http://www.missionmission.org/?p=42070#comment-59875 A painful reminder to always keep records of any request for maintenance and detailed logs of how those interactions play out. Protect yourself! Best of luck to those displaced =(

]]> By: Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable http://www.missionmission.org/2012/08/08/did-landlord-negligence-cause-the-fire-that-is-forcing-these-residents-to-leave-the-city/#comment-59874 Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:21:56 +0000 http://www.missionmission.org/?p=42070#comment-59874 Yeah. Seconded.

]]> By: word http://www.missionmission.org/2012/08/08/did-landlord-negligence-cause-the-fire-that-is-forcing-these-residents-to-leave-the-city/#comment-59871 word Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:03:59 +0000 http://www.missionmission.org/?p=42070#comment-59871 so sorry to hear. also a good idea to get renter’s insurance. it actually is not that expensive. I believe some renters insurances would cover the cost of storage. not sure what else.

good luck to you!

]]> By: M http://www.missionmission.org/2012/08/08/did-landlord-negligence-cause-the-fire-that-is-forcing-these-residents-to-leave-the-city/#comment-59870 M Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:17:54 +0000 http://www.missionmission.org/?p=42070#comment-59870 If you want to return to the apartment after the rebuilding has been completed by Cenco, do not accept your security deposit back. Your landlord is required to re-rent you the unit for the same $2500 rent that is stated in your lease.

See Rent Board Section 12.19:

http://www.sfrb.org/index.aspx?page=1238

]]> By: Art http://www.missionmission.org/2012/08/08/did-landlord-negligence-cause-the-fire-that-is-forcing-these-residents-to-leave-the-city/#comment-59866 Art Wed, 08 Aug 2012 14:58:40 +0000 http://www.missionmission.org/?p=42070#comment-59866 This is the correct response

]]> By: lawyer up http://www.missionmission.org/2012/08/08/did-landlord-negligence-cause-the-fire-that-is-forcing-these-residents-to-leave-the-city/#comment-59865 lawyer up Wed, 08 Aug 2012 14:36:06 +0000 http://www.missionmission.org/?p=42070#comment-59865 Take your lease and consult a lawyer, say less about the situation in public forums. Records of guests & boyfriends staying over outside of the lease terms can only hurt your case. In the meantime, compile records of your contact with the landlord regarding problems.

]]> By: Olympic Bowels http://www.missionmission.org/2012/08/08/did-landlord-negligence-cause-the-fire-that-is-forcing-these-residents-to-leave-the-city/#comment-59854 Olympic Bowels Wed, 08 Aug 2012 10:44:41 +0000 http://www.missionmission.org/?p=42070#comment-59854 Sorry to hear that….hopefully there are some lawyers here that can whack that scumlord.

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