San Francisco Looks to Limit "No Fault" Evictions

"On Thursday, hundreds packed an afternoon Board of Supervisors hearing as longtime residents told of being pressed to move out of rent-controlled units by speculators who had bought their buildings — in many cases with the intent to flip them for sale to higher-income buyers," reports Lee Romney. 

What makes such evictions possible? The Ellis Act, a state law enacted by the Legislature in 1986, that "allows for 'no fault' evictions in instances in which owners take their rental properties off the market."

"Most previous efforts to repeal or amend the Ellis Act have failed in Sacramento, and mayoral spokeswoman Christine Falvey said it would be 'an uphill battle.' But [Mayor Ed Lee] has teamed with state Sen. Mark Leno and Assemblyman Phil Ting, both San Francisco Democrats, along with two city supervisors to press for amendments that would allow municipalities experiencing housing crises more flexibility to regulate such evictions."