16-07-2025
Rats, sewage leaks, no hot water: S.F. landlord sued by city for ‘unsafe living conditions'
For nearly a year residents in a Tenderloin apartment building have been forced to live with rat infestations, sewage leaks, and a lack of heat and hot water, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday by City Attorney David Chiu.
In the lawsuit Chiu alleges that property owner Charles Kartchner created unsafe living conditions and endangered the health and safety of the tenants in a 10-unit building at 646 Ellis St., which he bought in March of 2024 for $1.15 million,
'This property owner took rent from each tenant then turned around and refused to provide the most basic necessities like hot water and heating,' said Chiu. 'Every tenant deserves a safe and clean place to live. It is the landlord's responsibility to ensure their property doesn't deteriorate.'
Kartchner could not be reached for comment.
The lawsuit comes after nearly a year of escalating notices of violations, none of which were addressed, according to Chiu's office. In total, the Department of Building Inspection has issued five citations to the property owner for violations of the San Francisco Housing Code.
In August of last year the property owner was hit with a violation because inspectors found the building lacked hot water. Later that month another notice of violation was issued for sewage leak, a rodent infestation, peeling paint and water damage, and damage to the main entry door,' according to the lawsuit. Other violations include a lack of garbage receptacles and damaged ceiling. In addition, the city attorney said the property owner failed to properly secure the building, resulting in trespassers entering.
The lawsuit orders the property to pay a penalty up to $1,000 for each day that the violations alleged in the complaint existed, at least $224,000 through Oct. 18, 2025, plus $1,000 per day thereafter through the entry of judgment.
The tenants, all immigrants from Vietnam, worked with the Tenderloin Housing Clinic to document the issues and bring them to the attention of city officials.
'It is essential to enforce tenants' rights to promote a high quality of life for San Franciscan residents,' said Gloria del Mar Lemus, Tenderloin Housing Clinic program manager. 'Tenants are already paying a high price to live in the city. Landlords cannot continue to violate housing codes by allowing their tenants to live without hot water or in properties with pest infestations or collapsing ceilings.'
Tenderloin Housing Clinic also filed a separate lawsuit against the property owner in April, after meeting with about 25 Vietnamese residents who complained of long-standing and serious maintenance and habitability failures.
Even among the hundreds of complaints DBI received about substandard living conditions, 646 Ellis St. was exceptional, according to Department of Building Inspection Director Patrick O'Riordan.
'This case really stands out for the sheer number of violations that led to unsafe conditions for the tenants,' O'Riordan said.'The City had to act.'
After a year living in 'unsanitary and unlivable conditions,' Longtime tenant Victor Ly said he was relieved that the city attorney took 'action against a bad landlord who could care less about the tenants.'
