FROM TENANT PAGE 3 Tenant receives payment
By DAILY PRESS STAFF
A long-time Santa Monica renter who was forced to temporarily relocate from his apartment almost a year ago as it underwent repairs will receive a hefty compensation package from his landlord.
The 88-year-old disabled tenant recently reached a settlement agreement with his landlord under the Santa Monica Tenant Relocation Law, awarding the elderly man more than $15,000 in lieu of comparable housing, according to the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office, which facilitated the proceedings.
The tenant’s name was not made available.
City Hall’s ordinance mandates landlords to compensate their tenants when they are displaced for more than 30 days, providing them with temporary housing located elsewhere in Santa Monica. In cases where the apartments are uninhabitable for less than 30 days, landlords must pay tenants to compensate for housing arrangements, meals and other expenses.
The resident was forced to leave the apartment he had called home since 1969 in April of last year, staying with his sister in Laguna Niguel, which is nearly 80 miles away, residing without the bulk of his belongings and having to reschedule doctor’s appointments on the Westside.
He complained to the Consumer Protection Unit at City Hall a few months ago after the landlord refused to compensate the tenant, accept his rent checks or acknowledge his right to reoccupy the apartment unit.
“When we learned of this situation, we immediately contacted the landlord to advise her of the law and get her side of the story,” Paula Rockenstein, the consumer affairs specialist, said.
The landlord agreed to comply after realizing that City Hall could file a lawsuit.
As stipulated, the landlord will continue to pay the tenant the equivalent of comparable housing until the unit is ready, accept rent payments, allow the resident to return and complete the repairs in a timely fashion.
The issue just might have been a matter of misunderstanding.
Deputy City Attorney Eda Suh said the landlord was cooperative once she realized that the relocation law applied to her.
“It turned out that both the landlord and the tenant were unclear about the relocation law and all of its requirements,” Suh said. “It’s a great example of how educating our residents about the law can help to bring these problem situations to a good resolution.”
Suggested pullquote: “When we learned of this situation, we immediately contacted the landlord to advise her of the law and get her side of the story.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 12, 2008. Read the original PDF.