Kicked Out: Investigation into Wrongful Evictions

More than 10,000 people in San Francisco have been evicted from their homes over the past five years, but hundreds of those residents may have been wrongfully evicted, according to an analysis by the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit.

Landlords can legally evict their tenants for one of 16 reasons, including failure to pay rent and housing too many roommates. One of the fastest growing evictions, however, allows landlords to kick out their tenants if they, or, in some cases, their relatives, want to move into the home.

Owner move-in evictions have spiked more than 150 percent in just the past five years. The Investigative Unit spent six months interviewing over 100 people all across the city to determine whether landlords or their family members are actually living in the homes they claimed to move into. The investigation revealed widespread abuse that has shocked residents, lawmakers, and even those who investigate wrongful evictions.

Watch Part 1 of our Special Report:

More than 10,000 people in San Francisco have been evicted from their homes over the past five years, but hundreds of those residents may have been wrongfully evicted, according to an analysis by the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit. Investigative Reporter Bigad Shaban reports in Part 1 of “Kicked Out,” a 4-part Investigative Unit special report (originally aired: 12/30/17)

Watch Part 2 of our Special Report:

A landlord accused his tenant of running a “prostitution ring” out of her apartment. The tenant said the claims were false and told the Investigative Unit the fabrication was all part of a ruse to try to evict her after landlord’s previous attempts failed. Investigative Reporter Bigad Shaban reports in Part 1 of “Kicked Out,” a 4-part Investigative Unit special...

Watch Part 3 of our Special Report:

Tenants who believe they may have been wrongfully evicted from their San Francisco home have few options but to attempt to take their landlord to court. An NBC Bay Area investigation explores why winning a case can still leave tenants can still leave tenants feeling like they’ve lost. Investigative Reporter Bigad Shaban reports in Part 1 of “Kicked Out,” a...

Watch Part 4 of our Special Report:

In what would be his final sit-down interview, then-mayor Ed Lee spoke to the Investigative Unit about his support for major housing reform following the NBC Bay Area investigation into wrongful evictions. The series of reports exposed a serious lack of government oversight that allowed landlords to wrongfully evict rent-controlled tenants. Investigative Reporter Bigad Shaban reports in Part 4 of...

Here's how to save thousands on your rent

Watch the entire series in this NBC Bay Area investigation:

 • Part 1: SF Landlords May Have Wrongfully Evicted Hundreds of Tenants

• Part 2: SF Fails to Prosecute Landlords for Certain Wrongful Evictions

• Part 3: San Francisco Considers New Eviction Laws Following I-Unit Series

• Part 4: NBC Bay Area Investigation Leads to Government Hearing 

• Part 5: SF Eviction Crackdown Passes After Investigative Unit Series

• Part 6: SF Mayor To Sign Law After NBC Bay Area Investigation

• Part 7: SF Mayor Inks New Law to Combat Wrongful Evictions

• Part 8: Lake of Oversight Puts Oakland Tenants at Risk of Eviction

• Part 9: Oakland Voters May Get Say on When Landlords Can Evict Renters

• Part 10: Expansion of Eviction Protections Heads to Ballot in Oakland

• Part 11: Oakland Couple Uses Hidden Camera to Fight Eviction

• Part 12: Landlords Frequently Ignore Oakland Eviction Laws

• Part 13: Oakland Housing Director Defends Department

• Part 14: Oakland Housing Chief "Fired," Says Source

 

The Investigative Unit mapped out every owner move-in eviction in San Francisco over the past three years. You can use the interactive map below to find evictions in your neighborhood. If your address is listed and you are not a landlord or a relative of the property owner, someone may have been wrongfully evicted from that unit, which might entitle you to lock in the previous tenant’s cheaper rent.

If your address is listed, let us know about it by emailing us here. You should also submit an official request to the city to have your rent reduced.

Watch the entire series in this NBC Bay Area investigation:

Contact Us