A San Francisco landlord is pursuing the eviction of a 92-year-old tenant, citing concerns over clutter within her apartment of four decades. Sue Yeng Yan faces displacement from her one-bedroom residence following a dispute that escalated after her building was acquired by Los Angeles-based Nabob Hill LLC last year.
Tenant Faces Eviction Amid Property Sale
Yan received an eviction notice on March 10. The notice, according to reports, alleges that “excessive piles of personal items and/or debris and/or trash” within her apartment pose a “safety and fire hazard.” Yan has expressed profound fear and anxiety over the prospect of losing her home, fearing homelessness. “I am so afraid,” Yan stated in Chinese. “I’m constantly anxious. I could end up sleeping on the street.”
Yan relocated to San Francisco from Zhanjiang, China, in 1982 and has resided at 1120 Jackson Street in the city’s Chinatown for approximately 43 years. Her current rent is $281.42 per month, a remarkably low figure for the Bay Area, attributed to the 16-unit building’s rent-controlled status.
Building Under New Ownership, Eviction Notices Issued
The four-story building at Jackson Street was purchased by Nabob Hill LLC in July of the previous year. Reports indicate that multiple tenants have also received eviction notices. The building, featuring downtown views and situated near the city’s iconic cable car line, has seen its previous listing highlight “significantly below market” current rents with substantial potential for rental income increase through unit turnover.
According to local news outlets, five other units have received similar eviction notices, with three of the affected tenants being senior citizens. Attempts to reach individuals associated with the building for comment have yielded limited responses, with some individuals declining to identify themselves or speaking with difficulty in English before ending calls.
Landlord’s Attorney Cites Safety Concerns
Daniel Bornstein, representing Nabob Hill LLC, stated that the landlord issued “numerous courtesy notices” in an effort to “address these issues amicably before pursuing further action.” Bornstein indicated confidence that the matters would be “resolved properly and lawfully, based upon their faith in the judicial process.” He further elaborated that the nuisance allegations, encompassing cluttering, hoarding, and unsanitary conditions, are supported by photographic evidence.
Bornstein also noted that it is standard practice under city law to withhold rent acceptance until outstanding violations are resolved. The building’s management company, Beam Properties, has reportedly not accepted monthly rent payments since the eviction notice was delivered.
Tenants Allege Profit-Driven Evictions
Residents, however, contend that they are being forced out of their rent-controlled homes to enable the new owner to increase revenue. The majority of the building’s occupants are reportedly low-income Chinese seniors. Shelby Nacino, an attorney representing the building’s residents, stated that 13 of the 16 tenants have been long-term occupants, with some residing there for up to 45 years.
Tenants have organized and protested the planned evictions, carrying signs with messages such as “Stop eviction,” “Protect our seniors, protect our community!” and “We are not moving” in both English and Chinese. Nacino has expressed concern over the number of similar nuisance evictions within a single building, questioning the “lack of communication.”
Kin Wong, a resident of over 35 years, believes the evictions must be halted and hopes the landlord will “hear our voice and stop this kind of harassment and eviction.” Another resident, Kit Ying Mak, who moved into her apartment in 2002, described feeling as though she was “having a mental breakdown” after she and her mother received eviction notices in March.
Bornstein previously stated that current management employees are fluent in Cantonese and English, offering residents a choice of communication language. Efforts to reach the building’s management company and the tenants’ legal representation for further comment have been ongoing.
