One Way To Get Your CitiApartments Deposit Back

**We are reposting this, because in the time that we were posting this, a new story popped us.**

So the first thing that we want to make clear: if you are in a CitiApartments Building which has been foreclosed upon, your security deposits are still safe.Your new landlord is liable for all claims against the old landlord when they assume responsibility for the building. Further, if your building is still owned by CitiApartments, then they remain liable for all security deposits. We encourage all tenants to read California Civil Code section 1950.5, which applies to all tenants within the state.

The most important provisions of this code include: Your landlord is always liable for your security deposit. Any money given to your landlord at move-in aside from first month's rent and a credit check fee is considered to be a security deposit. When you give possession of your unit back to your landlord, then you must get your deposit back within 21 calendar days or copies of receipts for repairs deducted from the security deposit. If the landlord withholds your security deposit beyond 21 days in bad faith, then you can sue your landlord for your security deposit and punitive damages.

Further, under San Francisco Administrative Code section 49.2 your security deposit accrues interest at a rate determined by the San Francisco Residential Rental Stabilization and Arbitration Board every year. This security deposit must be paid to you by your landlord every year for ALL funds of yours that he is holding, including last month's rent and illegal deposits such as "pet deposits" and "cleaning deposits."

Second, even if your apartment changes hands, rent control still applies to your apartment. Any rights that you had while living under CitiApartments, you have under your new landlord. AND REMEMBER: YOU NEVER HAVE TO SIGN ANOTHER LEASE THAT IS NOT IDENTICAL TO YOUR ORIGINAL LEASE.

Finally, under San Francisco Rent and Eviction Control your tenancy can only be ended for one of 14 just causes.You can review these reasons by looking at San Francisco Administrative Code Section 37.9. However, even if you do not read these codes please know that FORECLOSURE IS NOT A CAUSE FOR EVICTION. If your building has been foreclosed upon, you have every right within San Francisco to continue living there.

Please note: This advice only applies to those buildings which fall under the rent control ordinance.These buildings are any building built on or before June 1979. We do not hold ourselves out to be lawyers, and if you require representation--which most people won't-- we can recommend attorneys who represent tenants only for you to meet. If you would like to meet with a counselor please come see us!.