Better get out your hammer if you're the owner of one of 2,800 buildings identified as most vulnerable in an earthquake - yesterday the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the ordinance requiring retrofits of soft-story buildings built before 1978 that are at least three stories tall with five or more units. Right now landlords can pass 100% of seismic retrofit costs onto tenants at an increase of up to 10% in annual rent, but Board Prez Chiu is working on trailing legislation that will simplify the process for tenants to declare a financial hardship and avoid paying the rent increase. [SF Appeal/previously on Curbed SF]
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