SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco District Attorney David Chiu is suing a landlord in Bernal Heights over dozens of alleged building and fire code violations dating back years.
Chiu on Tuesday filed lawsuits against 320 Alemany LLC and Jack Tseng, who are accused of doing unauthorized work, illegally remodeling units and causing “significant fire safety issues” at four neighboring apartment buildings.
“These properties pose a serious fire hazard,” Chiu said in a press release on Friday. “After dozens of illegal conversions, the landlord has made significant profits from the same tenants he put at risk. We are taking action to ensure the safety issues are addressed and the landlord held accountable.”
The lawsuit alleges that Tseng owned 13 residential units at lots 316 through 328 Alemany Blvd. illegally modified. into 32 illegal units.
As a result, according to prosecutors, Tseng faces 26 violations of building, electrical, fire, health, housing, planning and plumbing codes that he has yet to address.
Alleged dangers of the buildings include bedrooms without emergency exits, inaccessible emergency exits, an ineffective fire escape, and pest infestations.
“The fire hazard is so great that the Department of Construction Inspection issued emergency orders requiring the immediate evacuation of two of the units,” Chiu’s press release said.
The lawsuit seeks to force Tseng to make any necessary repairs to bring the properties up to date, pay for tenants to move, allow tenants to return after the properties are repaired, and asks the court to appoint a liquidator to make sure tenants get their rent in order. The job is done.
In addition to court and attorney fees, more than $11 million in fines are being sought.
Tseng did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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