San Francisco Tenants Union

Check out endorsements and see if you agree:

2026 Endorsements If San Francisco is Goldilocks, Connie Chan is just right. Throughout her career she has supported renter protections, oversight of landlord-tenant conditions, and housing policies shaped by concerns about displacement, neighborhood stability, and affordability. Her approach emphasizes preserving ex...

All our love to Jackie Fielder. Take all the time you need...we know that District 9 is in very capable hands with the team she chose.

Another terrible idea from Mayor Lurie. Article summary: he wants to repeal Prop I, a tax on real estate transfers over $5M that is supposed to fund affordable housing. We are behind by more than 30k units in low income housing now. We can't think of a worse idea and we will defeat this.

Exclusive: S.F. leaders propose cutting city’s transfer tax to spur stalled housing projects Since 2020 San Francisco has had among the highest transfer tax rates in the country.

We're hiring!
Part-time fundraising & Public Engagement Coordinator
www.sftu.org/jobs

Feeling grateful for rent control and tenant protections? Consider a donation to the organization that fights for you!: https://sftu.org/donate/

Dear SF Tenants Rights Union,

Recently, we came in for counseling because our landlord demanded an additional pet deposit for the cat that has been living with us in our apartment for the past 15 years. The counselor we met with was patient, kind, and gave us all the information we needed in order to respond appropriately.

We can't thank the your organization enough for all the advice and assistance you provide. We're proud to be members and have made sure that everyone in our building is aware of their rights as tenants.

Please see attached photo for evidence of this.

Check out our update of Nov 20 for the latest on Upzoning and protecting rent controlled housing.

Upzoning Our Neighborhoods For Profits You might have heard of Mayor Lurie’s Family Zoning Plan that will upzone much of San Francisco in response to the State’s demand for incentivising developers to build 94,300 units. Here are the details of this plan and how it will impact your homes:

Tune in at noon where Demolition Protections will be discussed by the planning commission:

SFGovTV2 LIVE Live and Recorded Public meetings of SFGovTV2 LIVE for City and County of San Francisco

Rezoning was heard Monday. And Tenant Protections Ordinance will be on Thurs. Here is our take so you can follow along:

Upzoning Our Neighborhoods For Profits You might have heard of Mayor Lurie’s Family Zoning Plan that will upzone much of San Francisco in response to the State’s demand for incentivising developers to build 94,300 units. Here are the details of this plan and how it will impact your homes:

Mayor Lurie, greedy developers, and the Planning Department have proposed a plan to Upzone San Francisco with few protections for existing tenants and rent controlled buildings. By increasing heights, the plan incentivizes speculators to displace tenants, destroy sound rental housing and small businesses, and build luxury towers in their place.

They offer up a weak "right of first refusal" to evicted tenants but cannot guarantee that rental units will be replaced as rental units. If you manage to survive years paying market rent elsewhere and can qualify for a private loan, then you might be able to purchase a replacement unit. Whether the city will enforce on owners who do not follow through on this requirement is not assured. It certainly hasn't worked in cases of fire where tenants displaced rarely return to rebuilt apartments years later despite their "right of return."

Small businesses get even less from the plan as state law prohibits any sort of rent control or protections for commercial tenants.

The Tenants Union has thoroughly analyzed the proposal with an eye towards identifying loopholes, enforcement, and state law preemption that overrides the proponents claims. We have 45 years of experience watching speculators stay one step ahead of even well-intentioned legislation. We have serious concerns with the Mayor's plan because we know profit by any means necessary is the goal.

We need you to raise your voice to protect you and your neighbors on Thursday Sept 11 at 11:15am.

Meet at the steps of City Hall (Polk St) to witness the Mayor's press conference. Lurie, YIMBYs, and a new Planning Director who is firmly in the pocket of market rate developers declare victory in a press event before the votes have been counted and regardless of the deep flaws in the plan for tenants and small business.

There is still time to change the plan.

OUR DEMANDS TO THE MAYOR
REAL TENANT PROTECTIONS

-No by-right approval to demolish rent controlled buildings. The project must offer more than just "one additional unit than exists" in order to be worth the loss of sound housing and hardship for tenants
-If demolition is approved (through a commission vote) rental units MUST be replaced with rental units (not homeownership units)
-Tenants of all incomes deserve adequate relocation rental assistance while they move to temporary housing
-A trackable and enforceable right of return overseen by a city agency with legal powers to fine owners who don't follow through

STAND UP TO THE STATE

The number of units San Francisco is required to plan for keeps changing and our Planning Department refuses to show their math or offer alternative plans. Mayor Lurie, and his way too powerful but inexperience housing chief Ned Segal, have not pushed back on lobbyist demands because they don't understand the math or loopholes while developers and their own planning department run circles around them.

It is presented as accepted fact that this flawed plan is all we have and everyone must fall in line. No discussion. No proof. No debate allowed.

Enough is Enough - We are 64 percent of the city. Tenants deserve a say.

We need you to speak up and send emails to take a stand against this proposal.
Thursday Sept 11 11:15 am
Mayor Press Conference
City Hall's Polk St steps

followed by
Planning Commission Hearing
(approximately 12:40 start)
Room 400 City Hall