Responses to "a letter to a heartless landlord"
Monday Oct 20 1997
<colin@electronspin.com>
First I just want to say "Wow, that's a wonderful thing he did putting all that
info about OMI on the Web!" And people are worried about community and
the Internet. Nice job.
My brief story...
My landlord sold the building I live in last month and - surprise -
the new couple wants my flat. Aparently it is much nicer than the one above
or below.
I have lived here for six years and work out of the house. I never really
new about the laws involved with this kind of situation - I always heard
that tenants rights in SF were great, etc. but that's all.
I understand that in order for the owner-move-in to be legal thay need to
stay for 12 months. Well, it really does look like they want to move in here.
I suppose I could watch them for a year but I don't see what good that does me.
If they don't stay and had intended to cheap me out of my apartment in the first place,
what can I do? I'm already out, the damage has been done.
So, they hired an expensive lawyer to get me out. Offered me a months free rent
to try and avoid me immediately going berzerk on them. I'm not too upset about
moving, really. In principal I'm upset about how it all works but don't see what
fighting it can do. I haven't hired a lawyer or anything, just reviewed the Ordinance
(37.9(a)8) and asked a few poeple what they know. I'm planning on faxing their
lawyer back this week asking for a couple extra months rent as "moving expenses".
If they balk at that Imight consider hanging around the apartment for 6 or so months
and seeing what kind of a fight I can put up.
It really is amazing what people will do for money in this world.
A home, you know, is not a commodity like the building the home is in.
Colin
email kevin@whisperdesign.com
home www.whisperdesign.com