Do this today
- Write the problem. Date it. Keep photos.
- Open a request with San Francisco Rent Board or dial 311.
- Do not skip rent until legal aid has read the process for your state.
Who inspects a San Francisco rental?
San Francisco Rent Board is the local conditions door, and 311 is often how you open a request. An inspector’s dated notice is a different kind of paper than a text to the manager. The San Francisco Rent Board is the local forum for covered units. Ask them whether your unit is under the Rent Ordinance.
Can I stop paying rent to force the repair?
Sometimes California law provides a repair-and-deduct or rent-withholding process, and sometimes skipping rent is grounds for eviction. That line is in California Civil Code — hiring of real property. Ask legal aid before you change what you pay.
The San Francisco layer
The San Francisco Rent Board is the local forum for covered units. Ask them whether your unit is under the Rent Ordinance.
California Civil Code — hiring of real property (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1940 to 1954.06) is the California floor. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
San Francisco questions
My landlord in San Francisco will not make repairs — what can I do?
Put it in writing. Keep photos. File with San Francisco Rent Board or dial 311. Do not skip rent until legal aid has read California Civil Code — hiring of real property with you.
Is 311 enough?
311 opens a City request. It is not a court case and it is not legal aid. Keep the request number. If the unit is dangerous tonight, 911 or the utility first.
What number should I call in San Francisco?
Danger: 911. Mental-health crisis: 988. City services: 311. Court papers: LawHelp.org the same day. San Francisco Rent Board does not replace legal aid when a case is filed.
National answers on this desk
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org