A 92-year-old San Francisco resident, Sue Yeng Yan, faces eviction from her rent-controlled apartment of four decades due to allegations of clutter creating a safety and fire hazard. Yan received an eviction notice on March 10, shortly after her 16-unit building in Chinatown was purchased by Los Angeles-based landlord Nabob Hill LLC in July of the previous year.
Nabob Hill LLC, through its attorney Daniel Bornstein, claims that "excessive piles of personal items and/or debris and/or trash" in Yan's apartment constitute a nuisance and a fire hazard. Bornstein stated that the landlord had issued "numerous courtesy notices" over several months to address "fire and life safety issues amicably before pursuing further action." He added that it is standard practice under city law not to accept rent checks until outstanding violations are resolved.
Yan, who moved to San Francisco from China in 1982 and has lived at 1120 Jackson Street since 1983, expressed fear of becoming homeless. She currently pays $281.42 per month for her one-bedroom unit, a rate significantly below the San Francisco market, where average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is approximately $3,900, according to Zillow.
Multiple tenants in the building have received similar eviction notices. Shelby Nacino, an attorney representing the residents, indicated that 13 of the 16 tenants are long-term residents, some having lived there for up to 45 years. Three of the tenants facing eviction are senior citizens. The building's management company, Beam Properties, has reportedly not accepted rent payments since the notices were delivered.
Tenants and their advocates allege that the evictions are motivated by the new owner's desire to increase rental income. A previous listing for the building indicated a potential for significant rental upside through unit turnover, with current rents estimated to be 224 percent below market rates. Residents, many of whom are low-income Chinese seniors with limited English proficiency, have formed a tenants association and protested the evictions. They carried signs in English and Chinese reading, "Stop eviction," "Protect our seniors, protect our community!" and "We are not moving."
Nacino described the situation as unusual, noting that "it's not normal to have six nuisance evictions in one building that are all very similar." She expressed concern about the "lack of communication" from the landlord. Another resident, Kin Wong, who has lived in the building for over 35 years, urged the landlord to stop the "harassment and eviction."
Bornstein maintained that the owners are confident the matters will be "resolved properly and lawfully, based upon their faith in the judicial process." He also stated that current management employees are fluent in Cantonese and English to facilitate communication with residents.