SF Tenant: It’s always a bad idea to rent a room in an apartment with an absentee master tenant. Too many things can go wrong.

SF Tenant: It’s always a bad idea to rent a room in an apartment with an absentee master tenant. Too many things can go wrong.

If you’re a sub-tenant/not on the lease, what are your rights? Can the master tenant kick you out, or raise the rent, at his/her discretion?

The truly bad master tenant collects all of the roommates’ rent and then, for whatever reason, doesn’t pay the landlord. Usually you find out about the problem too late, after you’ve been named in an eviction lawsuit (unlawful detainer) or an eviction notice from the sheriff is posted on your door.