Information for Renters and Homeowners affected by COVID-19

Residential Renters Link to this section

You cannot be evicted for nonpayment of rent due to financial impacts of COVID-19 emergency. However, you must take action.

STEP ONE: Each time the tenant misses a rent payment, they must notify the landlord that they were unable to pay rent due to financial impacts of COVID-19 within 30 days after the date the rent was due.

STEP TWO: The tenant has one week to provide the landlord written documentation that the rent payment was missed due to financial impacts of COVID-19.

STEP THREE: If the tenant has followed the two-step process described above, the tenant shall have six months after the Order’s Expiration Date to pay the rent owed, before the landlord may attempt to recover possession due to the missed rent payment.

Click here for Guidance for Tenants and Landlords on the Temporary Moratoriums on Residential Evictions.

Fact Sheet and Sample Letter to Landlord in English
Sample Letter to Landlord in Spanish
Sample Letter to Landlord in Chinese

For additional tenant assistance contact :

Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco at 415-703-8644

Chintatown Community Development Center at 415-984-2728

San Francisco Tenants Union at 415-282-6622

San Francisco Anti-Displacement Coalition

Homeowners Link to this section

There is a statewide agreement with many lenders to offer mortgage payment forbearances of up to 90 days to borrowers economically impacted by COVID-19. However, you must reach out to your bank ASAP.

Under the Governor’s proposal, Californians who are struggling with the COVID-19 crisis may be eligible for the following relief upon contacting their financial institution:

• 90-Day Grace Period for Mortgage Payments
• No Negative Credit Impacts Resulting from Relief
• Moratorium on Initiating Foreclosure Sales or Evictions
• Relief from Fees and Charges

Additional information can be found here.

Here is an ongoing list of financial institutions that have agreed to provide the mortgage and fee relief listed above.

Commercial Renters Link to this section

The City has ordered a moratorium prohibiting commercial and residential evictions due to nonpayment until at least May 3rd. The temporary prohibition is aimed at stabilizing small- to medium-sized businesses (those with less than $25M in gross receipts) and residents impacted by COVID-19. For more information, visit the Mayor’s Press Releases here and here.

Commercial lease assistance is available.

The City partners with the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights to help SF small businesses (“mom and pop shops”) at risk of displacement with lease review and negotiation and related services. Enroll here.

Find more resources for businesses here.