If you rent in San Francisco long enough, you’ll collect stories the way other people collect sourdough starters.
You’ll hear them at dinner parties, in group chats, on neighborhood Facebook pages, and whispered in laundry rooms: “Your landlord can do that.” “Actually, no—they can’t.” “Well, my friend’s cousin said…”
Tenant rights in San Francisco are famously strong—but they’re also famously misunderstood. And when myths circulate, renters can lose money, sleep, or even their homes unnecessarily.
Here are some of the biggest tenant rights myths in SF—and what’s actually true.
Myth #1: “If it’s in the lease, it must be legal.”
This is one of the most dangerous myths.
Landlords can put a lot of things in a lease. That doesn’t make them enforceable. A clause saying “no guests ever,” “no plants on balconies,” or “tenant pays for all repairs” might look official, but it could be illegal under California or San Francisco law.
A lease is not above the law—it has to comply with it.
If something in your lease feels unreasonable, it’s worth asking questions or getting advice before accepting it as gospel.
“A lease is not above the law.”
Myth #2: “My landlord can raise my rent whenever they want.”
Not in San Francisco.
Most apartments in the city are covered by rent control, which limits how much and how often rent can increase. There are exceptions—newer buildings, certain condos, and some single-family homes—but “whenever they want” is rarely correct.
That doesn’t mean rent never goes up. It does. But there are rules, timelines, and limits that many renters don’t realize protect them.
‘Whenever they want’ is rarely correct in San Francisco.”
Myth #3: “If I complain, my landlord can just evict me.”
Fear is a powerful silencer. Many tenants stay quiet about leaks, mold, broken heat, or unsafe conditions because they worry about retaliation.
In reality, San Francisco and California have strong anti-retaliation protections. If you request repairs, organize with other tenants, or assert your rights, your landlord generally cannot evict you in response.
That doesn’t mean disputes are always easy—but silence is often more harmful than speaking up.
Myth #4: “The landlord can enter my apartment anytime.”
They can’t.
Landlords typically must give at least 24 hours’ written notice before entering your home, except in emergencies. “I own the building” doesn’t give someone free access to your living space.
Your apartment is your home, not an open house.
“Your apartment is your home—not an open house.”
Myth #5: “I’ll never get my security deposit back.”
Many renters assume security deposits disappear into a black hole.
Landlords can use the deposit for unpaid rent or actual damage beyond normal wear and tear—but they have to itemize deductions and return the rest within a specific timeframe. If they don’t, you may be entitled to more than just your original deposit.
In other words, you have more leverage than you might think.
Myth #6: “Roommates aren’t protected.”
A lot of renters—especially younger San Franciscans—assume that if they’re not on the lease, they have no rights.
Not necessarily. Depending on your situation, how long you’ve lived there, and the agreement you have, you may still have protections. Informal arrangements don’t automatically erase your rights.
“Informal arrangements don’t automatically erase your rights.”
Myth #7: “Only ‘problem tenants’ need to know their rights.”
This one is backwards.
Knowing your rights doesn’t make you a difficult tenant—it makes you an informed one. Most people learn about tenant law only after something goes wrong: a surprise rent hike, a broken heater in winter, or an eviction notice.
Understanding the basics ahead of time is less stressful than scrambling later.
Why These Myths Matter
San Francisco is a city built on renters. Teachers, nurses, artists, tech workers, restaurant staff, small business owners, and students all rely on tenant protections to stay here.
When misinformation spreads, it weakens those protections—not just for individuals, but for the whole community.
Landlords benefit from confusion. Renters benefit from clarity.
“Landlords benefit from confusion. Renters benefit from clarity.”
You don’t need to be a housing lawyer to navigate this city, but a little knowledge goes a long way. Ask questions. Share accurate information. And remember: in San Francisco, tenants have power—especially when they know it.
Because the biggest myth of all might be this one:
That renters are helpless. They’re not.
