 Call our Public Housing/ Section 8 Renters Rights Hotline 415-354-6353 REPAIRS IN PUBLIC HOUSING **The SFHA has a new repair reporting system. Call 311 or call 715-3100 to report a repair need. ** Housing that is kept
affordable by the US government (public housing, section 8,
HUD-Subsidized), has some key differences than other “private-market”
housing. Low-income housing is not covered by rent control so,
you do not have the ability to file “repair and maintain” or “decrease
in services” petitions with the rent board. However, you do have
some additional resources for getting repairs that other tenants do not
have, since your landlord has to meet federal housing standards as well
as local codes.
When you have a repair need: The first thing to do if you have a repair need in your public housing unit is put it in writing and give a copy to the manager (always save a copy for your records). Many buildings have a repair request form available. You may mail or hand deliver this but, make sure to date and sign the letter and save a copy for your records. Ask for a response within a certain time period (between 3-10 days, depending on the seriousness of the problem). If
you do not get a prompt response to your repair request, call the
maintenance department directly at 715-3100.
There is also a Public Housing Code Enforcement Hotline through the City Attorney’s office that you can call to register a complaint at 554-3977. If you have a health related issue such as roaches or mold, you can also call the City's Department of Public Health at 252-3805 and ask for an inspection. They will document the problem and also force the SFHA to make the unit meet the health code. It is important to document every step of the way. Make notes of how long it takes to get responses and keep copies of all correspondence and inspection reports. This “paper trail” will help you if you end up needing to take legal action. About
Repair Charges
If not fixed: The SFHA will charge a fee to tenants when they do a repair that they determine was "tenant caused". Fair examples of this are a drain that your child dropped a toy down, a carpet that you stained, a wall that you damaged when hammering. The SFHA should not be charging you for "normal wear and tear", an accident not caused by you, a family member or a guest (such as a baseball from outside breaking a window), or something that is the SFHA's responsibility (the heater stops working). In order to protect yourself, ask for a copy of the report the maintainence staff submits. Ask for a statement of any charges. The Statement should say what the item is, a breakdown of costs for repair and replacement and justification of charges (why they believe it is tenant caused). If you haven't had any response or your repairs weren't fixed, you can also call the City's Department of Building (DBI) Inspection at 558-6220 for other repair needs. They enforce the City's Housing Code and can fine landlords who do not cooperate. THE DBI has an agreement with the SFHA to inspect and report code violations. If you would like help getting repairs, call HRCSF at 703-8644 or drop in for counseling M-TH, 1-5, 427 S Van Ness. You can also call our hotline at 354-6353. IMPORTANT: DO NOT WITHHOLD RENT WITHOUT THE ADVICE OF AN ATTORNEY. While it is your legal right to withhold rent if you have serious code violations, doing so makes you vulnerable to eviction. Make sure you do it right to prevent eviction. Legal Action: If you do not get your repairs fixed, you do have the right to sue in court. You may sue without the use of a lawyer in small claims court for damages under $7,000. To find out more about this option, call 292-2914 or click here. If you would like to consult an attorney to find out more about withholding rent or suing for damages, see our list of legal resources for subsidized housing tenants. SFHA/ DBI Agreement HUD's Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Examiner article about the 311 repair line |