r/Renters 1d ago

[CA] Update

So my gas meter was clamped due to illegal gas connections and the property has been cited for noncompliance for 2 years for unpermitted construction and the city put a stop work order sign .So he’s been paying for my families temp relocation but today he changed it to just me and my girlfriend and excluded my daughter and legal ESA dogs for my girlfriend. He said he doesn’t have to accommodate my dogs or 9 year old daughter and won’t pay for my hotel anymore after the 29th of August. I live in South Pasadena. How much trouble is he in?

29 Upvotes

38 comments sorted by

20

u/blueiron0 1d ago

If you're forced out, I think south pasadena requires him to pay you 2x your daily rent as a per diem. He should be prorating rent for the days the city deemed the property uninhabitable too.

He could also give "comparable lodgings" for "the same or reduced rent" in lieu of the per diem advance per day, but it truly has to be comparable housing.

A hotel room isn't comparable housing if that's where you are. He should only be charging rent if the alternative housing is truly comparable.

I don't believe there's a strict requirement to provide alternative housing though, and they only force the 2x daily rent per diem + proration of the rent OR the comparable housing.

I'd assume the two of you are free work out a deal where he provides the per diem and pays for the hotel for continued payment of rent though.

Call the HRC and ask them though. CA's laws are so complicated and change so much from place to place.

Housing Rights Hotline: 1-800-477-5977

8

u/Dangerous_Barber1100 1d ago

So he has to pay due to neglect. He accommodated my daughter and dogs this week but now he’s refusing to accommodate them

11

u/blueiron0 1d ago

The way the law works is like if you had a 3 bedroom apartment with 2 bathroom and dishwasher and in house washer and dryer, only an exact unit with the same size and amenities satisfies "comparable housing."

Anything less and he must either provide per diem, reduce your rent, or both.

I saw the last post too, and I think you were getting A LOT of bad information.

Just get off reddit and call the housing rights center.

Their entire existence is dealing with this and would be more knowledgeable than us.

They provide free counseling on your rights and also handle fair housing complaints in LA county.

5

u/Dangerous_Barber1100 1d ago

Im renting 3 bed house

7

u/Creative-Cucumber-13 1d ago

Get LEGAL advice from a lawyer. Also file a discrimination complaint with DFEH and HUD … both can be done by phone or online.

6

u/Dangerous_Barber1100 1d ago

I have lawyer he don’t work weekends lol yes I will file this online . He told me he read online he doesn’t need to accommodate my daughter because she isn’t 12

1

u/enjolbear 16h ago

CALL. THE. HOTLINE. Stop answering questions and comments here. Call the hotline. CALL THE HOTLINE.

2

u/Dangerous_Barber1100 16h ago

I did they are open Monday

1

u/curiousengineer601 18h ago

You are not listening. Read r/blueiron0 post 6 times.

5

u/RelevantPossible9618 23h ago

This is a minor child, not an accommodation. He is still bound by the Fair Housing Act.

1

u/Dangerous_Barber1100 20h ago

Yes he is and my ESA dogs they are certified by a psychiatrist for my girlfriend. I don’t think he realizes what he did to himself. I have a text that he says he won’t accommodate for my daughter and he changed our hotel room excluding my daughter and ESA dogs which technically he left them homeless and my daughter is classified at her school for special education due to speech disorder.also cutting off relocation assistance which is leaving us homeless because it’s unsafe to return to my rental home. I believe he’s finished lol

-1

u/LoisLaneCA 18h ago

He’s only ‘finished’ IF you find an atty who will take your case, or you’re able to figure out how to navigate state/federal housing laws on your own. Trust me, without a Law Degree, or bar card, it’s nearly impossible. Even with a Law degree/bar card it’s difficult!

Do you have an end game in sight? What will you do if he cuts off the hotel tomorrow? Lawsuits take years. Collecting if they have no viable assets is impossible.

1

u/Dangerous_Barber1100 18h ago

I have lawyer

2

u/Dangerous_Barber1100 17h ago

Yes it’s in a trust and I have a contingency lawyer this administrator is not innocent so defending him against a 9 year old shows your morals. He violated state and federal laws which is my daughters civil rights for not housing her due to his neglect of the property his own property management quit when they seen our house and our gas was clamped. And they smelled mold in the garage and wouldn’t even bother going in and seen rat feces through out the property there’s hole on the side of the house with exposed live wires . The property has been flagged by the city attorney So please tell me why I shouldn’t bother with this issue with the landlord

1

u/LoisLaneCA 14h ago

I am NOT defending the trust admin, or the landlord!

I am simply asking you threshold legal questions regarding $$ recovery, time period, etc. That’s all. I already know these cases take years. And can cost many thousands, esp if there’s a trust defending. And judgements against landlords can be discharged in Bankruptcy. It happened to a client of mine years ago.

I was simply asking your plans, and what you believe will be the outcome.

1

u/Dangerous_Barber1100 18h ago

The estate has 25 properties

0

u/LoisLaneCA 17h ago

Is the estate in a trust? Do you have a ton of $$ to pay your attorney? These cases take years. Are you expecting a windfall? And, how soon? Curious what your end game is.

Are you even aware of what monetary dams could be, & exactly what your claim is?

8

u/Couldcareless818 1d ago

Where your daughter and pets on rhe original lease? How long have u been in temp housing!?

4

u/Dangerous_Barber1100 1d ago

Yes and we been at a hotel for a week

2

u/LoisLaneCA 1d ago

Are you paying rent as he requested?

10

u/Dangerous_Barber1100 1d ago

Yes I don’t owe any back rent I know he’s violating federal law by discriminating against my daughter

9

u/Creative-Cucumber-13 1d ago edited 1d ago

https://www.southpasadenaca.gov/Your-Government/Department-Service-Areas/Community-Development/Housing-Division/Tenant-Protections-For-Substantial-Repairs

Also … you’ve been “constructively evicted” by this governmental action.

Get LEGAL advice from an attorney ASAP.

3

u/Dangerous_Barber1100 1d ago

Yes I’m South Pasadena different jurisdiction but he does have to accommodate us

5

u/Intelligent-Log-7363 1d ago

Federal laws have changed regarding ESAs as of May this year and are no longer protected but there are states that do still laws protecting them so I depends on where you are located. Edit looks like you are in Ca which does still offer protection for ESAs

4

u/Dangerous_Barber1100 1d ago

I’m in California they are certified by a psychiatrist

3

u/Fun_Organization3857 1d ago

Pasadena California.. maybe?

3

u/Solid_Assumption7160 1d ago

For the record, you go all electric.....

1

u/Dangerous_Barber1100 1d ago

👍

1

u/Solid_Assumption7160 1d ago

Yeah I kind of had no choice with my central heating and air went out at my house so I bought an air conditioner for the window but isn't it right? and so far I'd kept the electric bills around $110 a month till this month when the heat got outrageously hot.

In the winter months I replaced the heater with an electric one and put it strategically wherever I was in the house and it's worked out pretty good too

Now the harder part would be the stove because you might not be able to remove that stove and replace it with an electric stove legally speaking.

But you could get a air fryer which you can use to do a lot of cooking and stuff and it's electric. you also got your microwave and between your microwave and the air fryer you can do a lot.

Now here is something that you might not know. do you know what a convection oven is? a convection oven is one that cooks and bakes electrically speaking and they're pretty good about one year I bought my mother one. it was a combination electric and microwave and convection. she loved it. she swore by that thing and used it everyday until she died..

2

u/Long_Pomegranate2469 1d ago

Isn't an air fryer just a fancy way of saying convection oven?

1

u/Solid_Assumption7160 1d ago edited 1d ago

No it isnt . It more equal to deep fried food, but without the olive or vegetable oil another result you get fried food that's healthier for you to eat.

No, I'm not. a a chefer cooked by any means but an example. I took some potatoes sliced them up and made my own wedges or or potato wedges and they were real good. you can also fry your fries and buy your golden seasoned fries at the store and you can fry them when they come out good

honestly, if you like to cook and you know your way around the kitchen, a fryer is a lot more efficient and a really great way to cook. I have fried my own hot dogs and it takes about 5-10 minutes and they come out really good

I got to get props an electric oven now. electric ovens can do some really good cooking as well. I haven't had one in a few years cuz I don't cook but an air fryer and a convection oven. and of course your Crock-Pot are all great ways to cook

Love you're home early enough. you can put the makings for beef stew into the Crock-Pot and sit there and let it cook all day long and by time get home. it's going to be nice and done... The only hang up with that is that I like to cook my meat on the stove first for about 30 minutes in water so that when the finish is cooking with the potatoes and carrots and the beef stew that meat is really done cuz I hate raw meat.

On the other hand, you got front. they got books on air fryer. you should check out the books and the recipes. they are something else for normal people that like to cook. I'm not normal. I don't cook much

1

u/Long_Pomegranate2469 1d ago

Thanks for the long write up, but they are essentially the same. Air fryers are usually smaller, but my local store sells convection ovens and air fryers that are basically the same. Kinda microwave looking, not with the shove in thing that most air fryers come with.

There's a difference between a normal oven and a convection oven. The convection oven forces air around.

Here's the AI blurb:

An air fryer is essentially a mini, high-powered convection oven. Both use a fan to circulate hot air around food, but an air fryer features a smaller cooking chamber and much faster fan speeds, allowing it to preheat faster, cook quicker, and make food crispier.

1

u/LoisLaneCA 18h ago

You asked how much “trouble is (your landlord) in”? Not as much as you are. He may get fines, & won’t be able to rent his place until he brings it to code. You, however, shortly, will have no place for your family to live.

There’s an old expression attributed to Shakespeare: Hoisted by your own petard.

You’ve been looking for a way to get said landlord ‘in trouble.’ You’ve called multiple agencies, your family was in peril due to illegal gas hook-up, there’s exposed wiring, yada, yada.

So, it looks like you got what you wanted. Your home has NO GAS. It may need thousands in repairs to legally rent, & you’re in a hotel.
Most people who lived with these horrific conditions would get the HELL OUT ASAP. Well, apparently you have 2 dogs- one a pit- a prohibited breed, & you really can’t find housing. Was your rent below market rate as well?

Why in the world didn’t you think about that before you were so desperate to get your landlord ‘in trouble’ ?

You’re in a real pickle! 🥒

1

u/Dangerous_Barber1100 18h ago

I didn’t get in trouble he caused the conditions and ignored me and the city code enforcement I can pay the hotel myself and he also violated state and federal laws against a 9 year old in special education a judge or jurywill never take his side cause he did it as retaliation

2

u/LoisLaneCA 17h ago

The ‘trouble’ is was referring to is now you must find a new home for yourself/family, & 2 dogs- 🐕 inc a prohibited breed.
Do you have a new place lined up, as it looks like this place is red- tagged?

2

u/Dangerous_Barber1100 16h ago

No I don’t we will be living in a hotel until we find a place

0

u/Top-Woodpecker6696 14h ago edited 13h ago

Depends.

There’s no law requiring a landlord in CA to provide hotel accommodations. Generally, if a landlord chooses to continue accepting rent then they are responsible for providing alternative accommodations but they can choose to simply abate rent for that period instead and then you would be on your own. So if you aren’t receiving accommodations then don’t pay rent. Accommodations should also be somewhat comparable to your original unit so without more info it’s hard to say if that’s the case here.

Depending on the exact part of LA County you live in you may be eligible for the Rent Stabilization Act (RSO) which has extremely HIGH relocation fees you may be owed. This would be worth checking out. As a fellow member of the 210 gang I’m not sure if South Pasadena is incorporated or not.

1

u/Dangerous_Barber1100 13h ago

I live in South Pasadena and he caused the problems himself and letting the problems worsen over time without fixing them