Member spotlight: Zack in San Francisco

We're starting a new series profiling our members and how they got involved with Tenants Together and the fight for renters' rights. Members are active across the state, some volunteer in whatever way they can, others organize tenants in their own communities. Zack has been a volunteer on our Tenant Rights Hotline since 2014, counseling fellow tenants on their rights and how to assert them. Want to become a member? Join now.

In 2014, Zack was happy to be our 2000th "Like" on Facebook!

I was moved into a Trinity Plaza in March of 2009, which was a dilapidated building that was going to be torn down within the next year. My apartment ended up having bedbugs, for which building management tried to say was my issue alone. Luckily, I contacted SF Health Services, who informed me of my rights. For moving into the old Trinity Plaza building, I was promised that I would move into a brand new apartment at Trinity Place in 2010, which would be rent controlled according to my Trinity Plaza apartment. I had lived in the Trinity Place apartment without a single negative incident, yet when I started to date someone that I cared about and had the person stay over, Trinity provided me with a Notice to Cure or Quit. Specifically, the lease that I had moved into Trinity Plaza with stated that I could not have a guest stay over for more than 10 days in a calendar year. When I mentioned to Trinity that this person was my significant other, a lawyer for Trinity said, "Trinity does not care if you are in a relationship, if you want to live with your significant other, you need to move out and find an apartment at the market value."

It was very obvious that Trinity was and is looking to push out people that are under rent control from their apartments. I tried to fight this, but the lawyers were relentless, and I did not see a way out. So, I provided Trinity Management with a notice that I was moving out. Upon moving out, Trinity Management inspected the apartment and stated that I owed them in excess of $400, in addition to my security deposit amount, to fix up the apartment, which included painting and cleaning. Initially, Trinity Management would not take into account normal wear and tear to the apartment. Further, I used a professional cleaning service to clean the apartment, including the appliances. After drafting several appeals to their gross misrepresentation of money owed, Trinity Management lowered the amount requested by 60%, which still meant that they kept my security deposit.

Because of the injustice I faced, I decided to volunteer with Tenants Together, as I wanted to be proactive in the fight for Tenants' Rights. Helping people find their voices and direction in their fight for Tenants' Rights gives me great joy, as I am able to help people stand up against slumlords, who are really just concerned with making as much in terms of profits as possible. Housing Justice is needed, as affordable housing is disappearing, especially in San Francisco. Soon, San Francisco will be a city for the wealthy and the poor, where the middle class people will not have a place to live in SF.

Tenant Toolkit: Sample Letters

Tenants Together is rolling out sample letters to help tenants dealing with a variety of problems with their landlord. From requesting repairs to contesting unfair fees, having a written record is the best way to assert your rights. If your landlord tries to retaliate against you for demanding safe, habitable, harassment-free housing, making your demands in writing means you have a paper trail in your defense. Not sure if any of these letters apply to your particular situation? Call our Tenant Rights Hotline at 888-495-8020 to speak with one of our counselors.

Here's a few of our more popular sample letters:

• Leaking roof? Tile crumbling in the bathroom? Mold on the ceiling? Request that your landlord make necessary repairs to your home.

• Being charged $50 a day for every day your rent is late? Contest unfair fees like this.

• Has it been more than 21 days since you moved out of your last rental and still no sign of your security deposit? Demand that your landlord send it immediately, with an itemized list of any deductions.

Tailor these letters to your personal case. These DO NOT substitute for legal advice! See our directory for legal advice or call our hotline at 888-495-8020 for assistance.

• Finally, don't forget to share your story with us! These appear on our Tenant Voices page.

See our tenant rights counselors in action

Our new cohort of volunteer counselors, who went through an initial training in January, brushed up on their skills together last Friday afternoon. Central to the training was reviewing the basic rights for tenants in foreclosure situations and getting clarity on what can often be a confusing, inhumane situation caused by banks, investment companies, and their real estate representatives. Photos from the day:

Group shot of everyone in the office Friday 3/22

Gold team takes a stab at the tenant foreclosure rights and process flow chart.

Blue team puts forth their best effort.

Counselors in attendance and their supervisor, Aimee.

Our counselors come from all walks of life, including students at local law schools, tenant rights activists, recently graduated public interest lawyers, and retired advocates for justice. With their passion and commitment, it's possible for us to help thousands of tenants across the state understand and assert their rights each year.

We work to help tenants demand necessary repairs, get their security deposit back, and fight back against unfair evictions, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. If you are a California tenant, call us at 888-495-8020 to reach a counselor.

Hotline Happy Endings...

Since 2009, Tenants Together has helped over 7,500 tenants in foreclosure situations know and assert their rights. Recently, we have had more and more calls from tenants in Fannie Mae-owned properties getting the runaround. Real estate agents representing Fannie Mae regularly give tenants invalid or confusing notices to quit, pressure tenants to accept cash-for-keys deals, and refuse to give tenants proof of ownership. Tenants who have been dutifully paying their rent have to deal with their whole lives being turned upside-down. This is fundamentally unfair, and through our hotline we help empower tenants to demand better outcomes for them and their families. 

Wendy—Sonoma County: 

Wendy first called our Tenant Foreclosure Hotline in the Fall of 2011 because she discovered her landlord was in default. We advised her on her general rights and what to expect if her rental went into foreclosure. After foreclosure Wendy dealt with a Fannie Mae representative who misled Wendy on their stated policy to continue to rent to tenants. In the Fall of 2012, Fannie Mae issued her an eviction notice. With help from our counselors, she was able to negotiate a cash-for-keys agreement that was on her terms. Wendy said, “I have been relying on Tenants Together for advice as a tenant who was facing foreclosure… Every single person that I spoke with offered helpful information… I simply could not have survived and triumphed without your guidance.” 

Tony—Fresno County: 

Tony called our hotline because he was given a 30, 60, or 90 day notice to move out by a real estate agent representing Fannie Mae (with this kind of confusing notice it is left to the tenant to figure out which time period applies to them). Tony was also confused because there were multiple agents claiming to represent Fannie Mae. After a couple counseling sessions on our hotline, Tony responded in writing to Fannie Mae asking for a clear point of contact. With further help, Tony successfully pushed back against his notice to move and was able to negotiate a year lease with Fannie Mae. He is currently working out the details of the agreement, but we are happy he’s met his goal of being able to stay in his home as long as possible!

If you or someone you know is a tenant in a foreclosure situation please have them call our hotline at 888.495.8020 to speak with one of our trained volunteer counselors.