By Joe Nguyen
Most renters are blindsided by eviction notices, but not Kyle Baker, a self-proclaimed clairvoyant residing in the Mission District. Divining a future in which he would have to give up his rent-controlled one-bedroom apartment, Baker decided to seize his destiny and evict himself.
Baker, a 36-year-old human resources professional, foretold that his income will not be enough to cover his rent after the prophesized 385% increase. And so he began the typically arduous process of serving paperwork for an eviction on the grounds of owner move-in.
Unlike many others facing similar situations, Baker will not fight to keep his apartment. “I could make a fuss and maybe try to stay in this beautiful place I’ve habited [sic] for most of my adult life, but I did my research before serving myself and know that this process is completely legal.”
Anna Dougherty, a volunteer with the San Francisco Tenants Union, says self-eviction is becoming increasingly common and difficult to combat. “It’s one thing when someone buys a building and expects to be able to live in it. There is legal precedent that enables us to fight those evictions or at least get relocation payments for the evictee,” said Dougherty. But when tenants evict themselves, there is nothing they can do.
“I had no plans to evict him, but I am planning to sell the building,” said Gloria Chang, the current owner of the three-unit building located at the intersection of Guerrero and 23rd Street. “The deal I have in place will close in about 60 days, which is the deadline for his self-imposed move-out. I have no idea how he knew that was coming!”
“It works out well for me,” said the likely buyer, who asked to remain anonymous. “I’m planning to move my parents into his unit soon after the purchase is complete. Which reminds me, I need to start the eviction paperwork in order to move my other parents into the first-floor unit where the disabled widow currently lives.”
Despite the purported family move-in, new renters are already lined up for the unit and were even available for comment.
Shawn Goldman and Jenny Shen, a perfect Bay Area couple who met while working together at LinkedIn, are looking forward to moving into Baker’s old apartment. “There’s actually a shuttle stop a block away, lots of restaurants and juiceries nearby, and interesting characters all around,” Shen commented. “When we heard it was $4,500 a month for a 530-square-foot apartment, we said, ‘Now that’s a damn steal!’”
Baker had no regrets about serving his eviction notice. “It’s tough to do this to myself, but it’s just the way things are. Besides, I literally knew this was coming. I had time to prepare. If I’m not ready to go by the end of the 60-day window specified in the paperwork, well, that’s on me.”
