San Francisco Bay Area Tenants' Rights Attorney
Ellis Act Evictions
The Ellis Act is a state-wide California law which gives the owner of residential property the ability to evict tenants to take an entire building out of residential use in many cases. In most cases this means converting the property to condominiums, although it can include conversions to single family residences, tenancies-in-common (TICs), or commercial property. The law also lays down strict rules about how and when evictions and the subsequent conversion can take place.
If you have received an eviction notice, you must take action to protect your rights and interests. At the Law Offices of James Coy Driscoll, we fight on behalf of persons threatened with eviction.
Call us at (415) 673-6000 for a free consultation. An attorney at our firm can explain your rights, the legal process of eviction, and how we can protect your home and your future.
Protecting Your Rights and Your Home in a Conversion Eviction
Since 1992, attorney James Coy Driscoll has worked on behalf of tenants threatened by eviction, subjected to landlord harassment, and victimized by violations of rent control and tenant rights laws in San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. His experience has made the difference in numerous cases. Your landlord may employ different degrees of pressure, ranging from cajoling to intimidation to outright threats. James Coy Driscoll does not yield to bullying. He will stand up for your rights and your home.
Under the Ellis Act, the eviction process must occur in a legal manner. Many landlords will issue official-looking documents that may appear to be valid eviction notices, even though they are not. Our firm can examine these documents or notices and inform you of your options and possible remedies.
There are number of ways to fight an Ellis Act eviction, most of them procedural in nature. Especially in San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley, an Ellis Act eviction procedure must closely adhere to the letter of the law. In San Francisco, the law provides for payment of more than $4,500 for relocation expenses, and more if you have children, are disabled, or are 62 or older. Also, if you are 62 or older or disabled, you are entitled to a one-year notice of termination of tenancy instead of the usual 120 days' notice.
Please note: Under the Ellis Act, you are disabled if you have a medical condition that untreated would interfere with a major life activity. For example, if you wear eyeglasses, you are likely disabled under the Ellis Act. Some other Bay Area cities provide similar benefits to tenants.
But the Law Offices of James Coy Driscoll takes this as only a starting point. We have negotiated settlements of more than $100,000 on behalf of a client faced with an Ellis Act eviction. In every case, we work to put the client in the strongest position possible. There is no guarantee as to your results. You should hire a skillful attorney to represent your interests in any settlement discussions.
For a consultation with a San Francisco Ellis Act Attorney at the Law Offices of James Coy Driscoll, call (415) 673-6000 or contact us online. The initial telephone consultation is free of charge.
