A San Francisco supervisor called for legislation that would give tenants a chance to purchase their buildings for sale at fair market value rather than potentially face eviction.
Board of Supervisors president David Chiu Tuesday asked the city attorney’s office to draft legislation creating a tenant’s right of first refusal.
Under similar legislation adopted in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., tenants are notified that their property will be up for sale and have a specified amount of time to match sale terms offered by another buyer, according to Chiu’s office.
Chiu said the proposal is in response to rising numbers of evictions around the city, particularly of tenants who live in small buildings.
“San Francisco must … protect our tenants from displacement and preserve our existing housing stock,” he said. “We need to do more to put housing in the hands of San Francisco tenants who are in danger of being evicted by speculative investors.”
Further details about the legislation will be worked out in the coming weeks with tenant and building owner groups, according to Chiu.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
