San Francisco · Renting & eviction

Buyout agreements in San Francisco

City rule: before buyout talks, the landlord gives a Rent Board disclosure, and the tenant may cancel up to 45 days after full signing.

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Key points

Buyouts: City rule: before buyout talks, the landlord gives a Rent Board disclosure, and the tenant may cancel up to 45 days after full signing.

Each rule below links to the section of the San Francisco Administrative Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What San Francisco's code says

San Francisco code What San Francisco's code adds
Required disclosure	Yes; before buyout talks begin, the landlord gives a written disclosure on a Rent Board form. § 37.9E · code text Prior to commencing Buyout Negotiations for a rental unit, the landlord shall provide each tenant in that rental unit a written disclosure, on a form developed and authorized by the Rent Board, that shall include the following: A statement that the tenant may refuse a buyout agreement or buyout talks. § 37.9E · code text A statement that the tenant has a right not to enter into a Buyout Agreement or Buyout Negotiations; A statement that the tenant may talk to a lawyer before agreeing or negotiating. § 37.9E · code text A statement that the tenant may choose to consult with an attorney before entering into a Buyout Agreement or Buyout Negotiations; A statement that the tenant may cancel the buyout agreement up to 45 days after it is fully signed. § 37.9E · code text A statement that the tenant may rescind the Buyout Agreement for up to 45 days after the Buyout Agreement is fully executed; A statement that the Rent Board has information on other buyouts in the tenant's neighborhood. § 37.9E · code text A statement that the tenant may visit the Rent Board for information about other Buyout Agreements in the tenant's neighborhood; A list of tenants' rights groups and how to contact them. § 37.9E · code text A list of tenants' rights organizations and their contact information; A statement that tenants' rights information is available at the Rent Board office, hotline and website. § 37.9E · code text A statement that information about tenants' rights is available at the Rent Board's office, through its counseling telephone number, and on its website; A statement explaining the subdivision-law effects for a landlord who signs buyout agreements. § 37.9E · code text A statement explaining the legal implications under Section 1396 (e)(4) of the Subdivision Code for a landlord who enters into one or more Buyout Agreements; Names of the people negotiating and the people deciding the buyout terms. Applies: Only if the landlord is a company or other entity. § 37.9E · code text If the landlord is an entity, the names of all people within that entity who will be conducting the Buyout Negotiations, as well as the names of all people within that entity who will have decision-making authority over the terms of the Buyout Agreement; A space for the tenant to sign and date when they received the disclosure. § 37.9E · code text A space for the tenant to sign and write the date the landlord provided the tenant with the disclosure; Information on how the buyout affects eligibility for city affordable housing programs. § 37.9E · code text Information provided by the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development regarding the impact of the buyout on the tenant’s eligibility for the City’s affordable housing programs. Information on how the buyout affects relocation help and other benefits if the property is redeveloped. § 37.9E · code text Information provided by the Planning Department regarding the impact of the buyout on the tenant’s eligibility for relocation assistance and other benefits if the property is redeveloped.
Filing with the city	Yes; landlord files a sworn declaration with the Rent Board after the disclosures and before talks begin. § 37.9E · code text After providing the disclosures required by subsection (d) and prior to commencing Buyout Negotiations, the landlord shall file a declaration executed under penalty of perjury with the Rent Board,
Time to cancel	Up to 45 days after the buyout agreement is fully signed. § 37.9E · code text A statement that the tenant may rescind the Buyout Agreement for up to 45 days after the Buyout Agreement is fully executed;

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