 The City of Oakland has filed a series of lawsuits against banks and real estate brokers, accusing them of illegally evicting tenants in foreclosed buildings.
Under a law passed by city voters in 2002, landlords must explain why they are evicting tenants and tell them they can seek advice from the Oakland rent board. Nonpayment of rent is just cause for eviction.
But City Attorney John Russo said at a recent news conference that in several cases recently, families "who have never missed a rent payment and have played by the rules and have been good tenants are receiving wrongful eviction notices, in clear violation of local law and any standard of common decency."
Tenants have received eviction notices accompanied by "cash-for-keys" offers that "do not come close to covering normal moving costs," Russo said. Many banks are clearing renters out of foreclosed buildings before selling the properties, he said.
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