Our experienced eviction lawyers of Steven Adair MacDonald & Partners, P.C. regularly handle hundreds of landlord-tenant disputes a year, most involving rent control and eviction issues. Our San Francisco landlord-tenant and real estate attorneys have more than 30 years of experience in landlord-tenant law in San Francisco and the Bay Area.

Just Cause Evictions

There are 16 reasons for which a landlord can lawfully evict a tenant in San Francisco; seven relate to the behavior of the tenant and nine are landlord prerogatives. A tenant’s bad behavior can be used to terminate a tenancy even when a one-year lease is in effect.

The owner bears the burden of proof that the tenant’s behavior is cause for an eviction. At Steven Adair MacDonald & Partners, P.C. our eviction lawyers can assist landlords in establishing nonpayment of rent (usually a straightforward action), nuisance, violation of short-term rental provisions, or criminal activity. We also provide advice and representation regarding evictions under the Ellis Act.

Claims of breach of lease covenants must be based on serious violations. Unapproved subletting, having too many roommates, and harboring pets are common actionable causes, but they can be complicated. Even rental agreements that are not in writing may have obligations besides payment of rent. Our trusted San Francisco eviction lawyers can assist you in navigating the just cause eviction process.

When a just cause action is not available, a lease buyout is a legitimate option. As experienced mediators and negotiators, our real estate lawyers can assist in lease buyout negotiations between landlords and tenants.

Resolution Of Conflicts

At Steven Adair MacDonald & Partners, P.C. we pride ourselves on achieving the best possible outcomes for our clients in an economical manner. The vast majority of cases do NOT go to trial. The two sides eventually reach an agreement and settle, perhaps with a lease buyout. Knowing this, we critically analyze our client’s situation to see if we can help him or her find an agreement earlier, rather than later, saving an enormous amount of time and money.

Creative solutions to complicated scenarios are our strong suit. When a landlord gets sued, our attorneys are often able to get the owner’s insurance company to provide a defense or to help settle the case. This potentially frees our client from the cost of the litigation, which can be very high.

Security Deposits and Defaulting Tenants

Our San Francisco eviction lawyers offer a variety of conflict resolution methods to resolve your landlord-tenant law disputes through mediation, negotiation, and litigation. Call our San Francisco landlord-tenant attorney at Steven Adair MacDonald & Partners, P.C. by calling 415-562-0504 or sending us a message to schedule a consultation.