According to this morning's Oregonian newspaper, 96 physiciansand dentists on month-to-month contracts received notices in Augustthat in September their rents would increase anywhere from 40% to1,400%. In one case, a dentist was informed his rent would increasefrom $2,800 a month to $8,000. In another case, a neurologist rentwas increased from $1,455 a month to $3,545.57, and toldnon-medical tenants – the Internet market research company KiraComCorp. is one - would soon be moving in.

"I took that to mean they really wanted us out," Dr. MarilynRobertson, the neurologist, told the Portland-based newspaper. "SoI started looking right away for another place for my office."

The hike has spawned complaints to local medical societies aswell as the San Francisco Board of City and County supervisors,which held a special meeting to discuss the complaints last month.But Harsch Investment says the rents have been far below market fora long time, the increase is not as much as it could have been and,when you lease space on a month-to-month basis, that's whathappens.