Tobener Ravenscroft LLP is the leading tenant rights law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area. The law firm has collected millions on behalf of its clients, serving more than 10,000 tenants who have faced wrongful evictions, intractable repair issues, landlord harassment, tenancy discrimination, and landlord-caused injuries.
The firm won the SF Bay Guardian Small Business of the Year. It has been featured in California Lawyer and the Daily Journal, and its lawyers have been quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle, the New York Times, Wired, and Reuters. The firm is dedicated to employee activism and sponsors all of its tenant lawyers to volunteer weekly at tenant law nonprofits, equaling nearly 500 community hours each year.
The firm won the SF Bay Guardian Small Business of the Year. It has been featured in California Lawyer and the Daily Journal, and its lawyers have been quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle, the New York Times, Wired, and Reuters. The firm is dedicated to employee activism and sponsors all of its tenant lawyers to volunteer weekly at tenant law nonprofits, equaling nearly 500 community hours each year.
Services
Under the San Francisco Rent Ordinance, Oakland Rent Ordinance, Berkeley Rent Ordinance, and Richmond Rent Ordinance, a wrongful eviction occurs when a landlord forces a tenant to move out of a rent-controlled unit. This can be either a permanent or temporary ouster. Landlords wrongfully evict tenants in many ways.
Landlords are required to make all necessary repairs to ensure a rental unit is habitable and to comply with state and local building and health codes. The Court has held that all residential rental agreements contain an "implied warranty of habitability", which means regardless of what your lease says, your landlord has a duty to make sure the unit is livable, safe, and not in need of repair.
Reviews (22)
Tuxbury Johnson
Jan 27, 2022
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This firm took what could have been the most stressful time in my life, the first time I've ever needed help with a lawsuit, and completely salvaged it.
From beginning to end they were patient, professional, knowledgeable, and kind. Their top priority seemed to be making sure we were comfortable, seconded only by their desire to get us the money we were owed. They showed care and concern for us at every step.
I cannot recommend them enough. I started this process TERRIFIED, and all it took was one phone call with them to have my confidence back. They were consistently clear about what to expect
From beginning to end they were patient, professional, knowledgeable, and kind. Their top priority seemed to be making sure we were comfortable, seconded only by their desire to get us the money we were owed. They showed care and concern for us at every step.
I cannot recommend them enough. I started this process TERRIFIED, and all it took was one phone call with them to have my confidence back. They were consistently clear about what to expect
Maura Cotter
Jan 27, 2022
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Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
I had a really wonderful experience with everyone that I worked with at the Tobener Ravenscroft firm. Stephanie, Joe and Emily are truly amazing at what they do! I'm so grateful for their expertise every step of the way. I can't say thank you enough for helping me move through this horrible situation with my landlord!
I had a really wonderful experience with everyone that I worked with at the Tobener Ravenscroft firm. Stephanie, Joe and Emily are truly amazing at what they do! I'm so grateful for their expertise every step of the way. I can't say thank you enough for helping me move through this horrible situation with my landlord!
Amanda J.
Jan 25, 2022
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We reached out to Tobener Ravenscroft when our apartment sustained water damage, and it went unresolved by our landlords for months. We were expecting our first baby and the stress from no repairs and circular communication was heavy. From our first call to the resolution, every interaction with Tobener Ravenscroft was impressive: they are knowledgeable, organized, responsive, articulate, and supportive. Stephanie, Joe, and Tiffany are not only the very BEST at what they do, but they are also real people who understood and cared about our frustrating situation. You will not regret calling the experts
Butter C.
Nov 04, 2021
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These people really do good work! I know because I was in a nightmarish situation with my former sleazy landlord. After having been given bad legal advice by the first law firm I spoke with, Tobener Ravenscroft not only successfully got me out of the mess but also got me a nice settlement in the end. I can't even describe what it's like to be lied to, manipulated, and treated so disrespectfully and then have Tobener Ravenscroft come to your side and support you 100%. In my case, it felt like a miracle. They are bright, intelligent, ethical, supportive and doing it for all the right
Cara Brinster
Oct 25, 2021
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Justin Duncan-Mills
Oct 22, 2021
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Rossy R.
Oct 17, 2021
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Elizabeth B.
Oct 13, 2021
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Joe and Allyson took our impossible case against our negligent landlord and won it. Our situation was incredibly stressful on our family, especially, having a newborn baby. We were frightened and unaware of our legal options, but when we sought information from the well-known, tenants rights firm, Tobener-Ravenscroft, Joe and Allyson took our case. The positive outcome aside, our experience with the firm was outstanding. Our entire legal team was so attentive and communicative. They proactively shared updates on next steps and provided valuable explanations, which gave us much-needed clarity and
Sisque
Oct 04, 2021
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I was going through a dispute with my landlord where they took $1,200 of our deposit. We sought legal advice from Associate Attorney Christina Collins and put together a demand letter to send to our landlord, within 5 minutes the landlord was calling us to settle the dispute. Christina was knowledgeable and extremely helpful in recovering our deposit that was rightfully ours.
Patrick H.
Sep 29, 2021
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C. G.
Sep 07, 2021
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I was in an extremely dark situation with a nightmare roommate and unbelievable landlord in San Francisco. From no heating in the unit to a landlord that is a habitual liar, Tobener Ravenscroft helped me when no one else cared to listen. When I reached out I was not sure I even had a case. Save yourself time and energy, contact them and you will be very happy with your decision. I know I am. Thank you Tobener Ravenscroft for believing in me and representing me 100% all the way.
Bosco P.
Sep 05, 2021
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Fantastic experience with the firm overall and specifically with Tina Collins. We had a few consultations with her, and each time she efficiently informed us of our rights, helped guide us through the more complex stuff, and provided us with information that would have taken us forever to figure out ourselves. In the end she probably saved us over $5k.
Very highly recommend!
Very highly recommend!
Hunter P.
Aug 28, 2021
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A very well written review by Kelly W..... my experience with this firm was exactly the same; they offer a "Free Consultation" and then say they'll send the "PayPal link for $195"
I use attorneys in every area of my life and personally, I don't
PayPal money people for consults to see if I want to hire them or move forward with their firm. I'm not in favor of this type of business practices, but obviously it's a personal choice.
In this situation, turning to attorneys can feel desperate, but if you have never retained an attorney previously, consider other
I use attorneys in every area of my life and personally, I don't
PayPal money people for consults to see if I want to hire them or move forward with their firm. I'm not in favor of this type of business practices, but obviously it's a personal choice.
In this situation, turning to attorneys can feel desperate, but if you have never retained an attorney previously, consider other
Nathan Torreano
Aug 24, 2021
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If I could select 6/5 stars, I would! We sought legal advice after our landlord of many years attempted to keep our entire security deposit and charge us significantly beyond our security deposit for pre-existing issues, renovations, and more that did not make any sense to us. After reaching out to several of the tenant's rights attorneys in the Yelp Top 10, Joe Tobener was the ONLY attorney who knew of a change in the law that made our case not just a simple security deposit case but also an illegal eviction case. This differentiated knowledge and expertise wasn't just a mirage as working with
Kelly W.
Aug 20, 2021
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Our personal experience with contacting Tobener was a bait-n-switch. This is neither professional nor ethical in my view.
After promoting FREE CONSULTATIONS on Yelp and elsewhere, they wanted to charge a $195 consultation fee for a 30 minute call, sending a PayPal link to pay the fee before they would have an attorney discuss, which mostly would be the potential client sharing facts and providing context of the situation/dispute.
The consultation isn't just for the attorney to assess the case, but for the CLIENT to assess the attorney and/or firm's competence to handle the situation
After promoting FREE CONSULTATIONS on Yelp and elsewhere, they wanted to charge a $195 consultation fee for a 30 minute call, sending a PayPal link to pay the fee before they would have an attorney discuss, which mostly would be the potential client sharing facts and providing context of the situation/dispute.
The consultation isn't just for the attorney to assess the case, but for the CLIENT to assess the attorney and/or firm's competence to handle the situation
Brett S.
Aug 19, 2021
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I have had a terrible experience the past few months in my current apartment, and I reached out to Tobener Ravenscroft for guidance and help on how to get my landlord to address the termite issues in our apartment that have been happening for over 6+ weeks now.
I was able to get a consultation the next day, and Christina was incredibly helpful. She was able to tell me the exact California Civil Code my landlord was in violation of, and then give me multiple options on how to move forward. Christina was super thorough, and also just really empathized with my situation. Having termites flying around
I was able to get a consultation the next day, and Christina was incredibly helpful. She was able to tell me the exact California Civil Code my landlord was in violation of, and then give me multiple options on how to move forward. Christina was super thorough, and also just really empathized with my situation. Having termites flying around
Nicholas U.
Jun 14, 2021
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Vanessa Castellanos
May 28, 2021
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My experience of working with the law office of Tobener Ravenscroft couldn’t have gone better. This amazing team helped us with our wrongful eviction and did so with determination and a lot of support. Everyone that we met in their office was great but Allyson Murphy took especially good care of us. She provided much guidance by offering regular check ins about the case, explaining legal terms and procedures and kept persistence throughout the entirety of our very long case. Allyson stuck to the facts and negotiated a settlement offer that we were very happy with. I highly recommend any tenant
Rex L.
May 22, 2021
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Beginning with our first interaction with Tobener Ravenscroft our experience was positive and professional. We described our situation to Julia Wobbe. who was assigned to work with us. She is very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. She made herself available to us any time we had questions ranging from the law to detailed billing information. We followed all of her suggestions which resulted in us receiving an outstanding result We would recommend her to anyone who has a dispute with a landlord and has need for an attorney.
Marilee
Marilee
Omar A.
May 16, 2021
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We spoke with Tina regarding some issues we were having with the management in our apartment. I like to think that I am generally well versed in my rights but this case was far more nuanced than what a basic Google or read of the laws could provide. The 30 minute consult helped me get a sense of clarity and her advice was not only something I didn't think of, but worked flawlessly. Google doesn't give you a law degree.
Brandon C.
Jan 17, 2021
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I was very impressed with Tina (Lawyer). You could tell she really cared. She had exceptional knowledge and actually listened to what I had to say/ask. My landlords are trying to raise my rent during Covid, which is bad enough, but they are also doing shady stuff to rub it in the tenants faces. With the information Tina provided to me
during our consult, I feel like I have a fighting chance with the Rent Board. Thank you to Tina and the rest of the firm. Very impressed. These are the people you want to go to. Thanks so much guys.
during our consult, I feel like I have a fighting chance with the Rent Board. Thank you to Tina and the rest of the firm. Very impressed. These are the people you want to go to. Thanks so much guys.
Sunshine P.
Jan 06, 2021
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I would recommend Joseph Tobener to EVERYONE! We had the worst experience with our Landlord during Covid and Joseph had our back and refused to let us be pushed around by the landlord's lawyer that was literally trying to throw so much craziness at us.
He made us feel safe and we truly understood that he had our Backs!
Words cannot express our gratefulness that we found Joseph.
He is worth every penny!
He will be the only tenant lawyer I will ever use...and I would recommend him to anyone.
He made us feel safe and we truly understood that he had our Backs!
Words cannot express our gratefulness that we found Joseph.
He is worth every penny!
He will be the only tenant lawyer I will ever use...and I would recommend him to anyone.
