We are an autonomous union of TENANTS building tenant power in sacramento

WE ARE AN AUTONOMOUS UNION OF TENANTS BUILDING TENANT POWER IN THE SACRAMENTO REGION.

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Having landlord problems? Don’t get overwhelmed, get organized. There’s power in numbers and many ways to connect with tenants in the SVTU for support in the struggle against landlords.

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Questions / preguntas

Questions / preguntas

“Tenants unions are building, neighborhood or city-based organizations led by renters who stand together to build collective power, defend our communities, and our rights.” (Tenants Together)


¿QUÉ ES UN SINDICATO DE INQUILINOS?

“Sindicatos de inquilinos son organizaciones basadas en edificios, barrios, o ciudades dirigidas por inquilinos quienes se solidarizan para construir poder colectivo, defender nuestras comunidades, y nuestros derechos.” (Tenants Together)

In SVTU, there are three local groups in the neighborhoods of Arden-Arcade, Del Paso Heights, and South Sacramento. In each neighborhood, SVTU members knock doors at apartments to ask tenants about housing problems and gather in regular meetings with tenants to discuss their problems and how to confront them collectively.

 

¿QUÉ SON LOS LOCALES DE SVTU?

En el SVTU, hay tres grupos locales en los vecindarios de Arden-Arcade, Del Paso Heights, y South Sacramento. En cada vecindario, miembros del SVTU tocan las puertas de los apartamentos para preguntarles a los inquilinos sobre los problemas con su alojamiento y se juntan con los inquilinos en reuniones periódicas para platicar de sus problemas y como enfrentarlos en colectivo.

All tenants are welcome! In each local meeting, tenants from the neighborhood (and beyond) gather to discuss how to respond to the landlord abuses they are facing. SVTU members from across the city participate to offer advice and support, and to learn from collective practice.


¿QUIÉN ASISTE A LAS REUNIONES LOCALES?

Todos los inquilinos son bienvenidos! En cada reunión local, inquilinos del vecindario (y más afuera) se reúnen para conversar sobre cómo responder a los abusos del propietario que se enfrentan. Miembros del SVTU de toda la ciudad participan para ofrecer consejos y apoyo, y para aprender de la práctica colectiva.

SVTU members prepare a regular space in the neighborhood with tables and chairs, tenant rights materials, interpretation devices, and food and drinks. Tenants from the neighborhood (and beyond) gather to discuss in a group how to confront problems with their housing and their landlords. Volunteer members listen, interpret if needed, take notes on the problems that tenants face, suggest possible responses, offer useful resources, and help tenants to take the next steps.


¿QUÉ SUCEDE EN LAS REUNIONES LOCALES?

Miembros del SVTU preparan un espacio regular en el vecindario con mesas y sillas, recursos sobre los derechos de inquilinos, aparatos de interpretación, y comida y bebidas. Inquilinos del vecindario (y más afuera) se juntan para conversar sobre los problemas con su alojamiento y con sus proprietarios. Miembros voluntarios escuchan, interpretan si se necesita, toman notas sobre los problemas que se enfrentan los inquilinos, sugieren respuestas posibles, ofrecen recursos útiles, y ayudan a los inquilinos a tomar los próximos pasos.

“A TENANTS ASSOCIATION is a group of tenants living in the same building or development who choose to join forces in order to advocate for themselves, particularly when dealing with their landlord or management.” (LATU Tenants Association Handbook)

 

 

¿QUÉ ES UNA ASOCIACIÓN DE INQUILINOS?

“Una ASOCIACIÓN DE INQUILINOS es un grupo de inquilinos en el mismo edificio o conjunto residencial quienes deciden unir fuerzas para abogar por si mismos, en particular al tratar con el propietario o la administración.” (LATU Tenants Association Handbook)

SVTU members offer guidance and support to tenants interested in forming a tenant association at their building or residential complex.

The Los Angeles Tenants Union (LATU) also offers a very useful Tenants Association Handbook to help guide tenants through the steps of setting up their own tenants association.

If you are interested in forming a tenants association with your neighbors, send us a message with the contact form below, or with an email to: sacvalleytenants@gmail.com.


¿CÓMO FORMAR UNA ASOCIACIÓN DE INQUILINOS?

Miembros del SVTU ofrecen consejo y apoyo a los inquilinos interesados en formar una asociación de inquilinos en su edificio o conjunto residencial.

El Sindicato de Inquilinos de Los Angeles (LATU) también ofrece un Tenants Association Handbook muy útil para guiar a los inquilinos por los pasos de establecer su propia asociación de inquilinos.

Si le interesa formar una asociación de inquilinos con sus vecinos, envíanos un mensaje con el formulario de contacto abajo, o con un email a: sacvalleytenants@gmail.com.

You can meet SVTU members and start organizing at the next local meeting or other event (consult the calendar above).

No experience is needed to knock doors with SVTU, and we always pair up experienced members with new volunteers to talk with tenants together. It’s easy and fun!

If you have any questions, send a message with the contact form below, or by email at: sacvalleytenants@gmail.com.

¿CÓMO ORGANIZARNOS CON EL SVTU?

Usted puede conocer a los miembros del SVTU y empezar a organizarse en la próxima reunion local u otro evento (consulta el calendario arriba).

No se necesita experiencia para tocar puertas con el SVTU, y siempre nos juntamos los voluntarios con más experiencia con los nuevos voluntarios para conversar con inquilinos juntos. ¡Es fácil y divertido!

Si tienen preguntas, envíanos un mensaje con el formulario de contacto abajo, o con un email a: sacvalleytenants@gmail.com.

get the Know YOUR RIGHTS HANDBOOK

In this SVTU handbook, you will find an overview of the legal rights you have as a tenant to seek repairs, fight evictions, contest rent increases, organize with your neighbors, and more.

When the law fails——as it often does——organizing with neighbors and comrades gives us the power to stop landlord harassment, win our fair demands, and secure safe homes for ourselves and all of our neighbors.

A better world is possible, one free from landlord exploitation, and together we can build it.

Read the
svtu news

contact svtu

Reach out to SVTU with questions or concerns

ORGANIZING BLOCK BY BLOCK

The three pillars of building tenant power

THE TENANTS UNION

Citywide, member-led association of tenants

  • General meetings monthly

  • Working committees report back

  • Strategy and reflection

  • Open to all tenants

Tenant Locals

Area-based solidarity and strategy groups

  • Arden, Del Paso, South Sac
  • Tenant support meetings
  • Community canvassing
  • Hub for neighborhood connection

Tenants Associations

Neighbors uniting to face a common landlord

  • Building-based associations
  • Direct action against landlords
  • Solidarity among neighbors

get THE NEWSLETTER

get THE NEWSLETTER

Tenant Tools & Resources

Tenant Tools & Resources

Download sample letters, legal guides, flyers, zines & more

Since May 2026, residents at Lavender Courtyard have been working as a collective to organize their building. This complex is primarily composed of senior tenants who are often on a fixed income, a demographic that is facing an increased risk of homelessness. They’ve been facing many issues: broken elevators, mold, water leaks, hasty repairs and lack of accessibility despite the complex being just four years old! Support the Lavender Courtyard Tenants Association on their journey to build tenant power!✊🏽
Volunteer with SVTU at the Anarchist Book Fair!

Join us Saturday, October 17, from 10 AM to 7 PM at Flower Fist Art Market (1819 E St.)!

Help table with SVTU, share resources about tenant organizing, invite others to get involved, and spread the word about the fight for tenant power in Sacramento.

No experience needed! Tabling is a great way to learn more about the Union and discover ways to get involved.

Sign up to volunteer: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mc_22Hc28EUbv5eaDg3ZwQxgrwnIRxr8FvmGdjDJ3Sc/edit?usp=sharing
🎃 Help us build a Code Enforcement Haunted House art installation for our benefit party on October 24th 🎃

As tenants, we all either have or know someone that has a folder in their phone full of evidence of the uninhabitable conditions we are sometimes forced to live in.

We want your photos of housing issues you've experienced in Sac! Rats, termites, deteriorating buildings, mold, and other code enforcement violations that go unanswered. 

Your submission would include 
* one or more photos of habitability issues in your current or past rental home in Sacramento 
* one-sentence caption per photo (optional. You can have just have one caption if you want, or none!)
* each entry needs a neighborhood (if you choose to stay completely anonymous, we can say Sacramento instead)
* set of initials (if you choose to stay completely anonymous, we can say Neighbor instead)

Link to submit in bio.

Submissions close on Sunday, October 18th 11:59 p.m.
Join SVTU’s next General Meeting to help make art for the movement! We will be folding zines for upcoming events, assisting one of our tenants associations with sign painting and working on other art projects that get the word out about what we do. No experience or artistry required!

When: Thursday, October 8th at 6:30 PM
Where: Flower Fist Art Market, 1819 E St
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