She alleges that her landlord harasses her to leave; organization talks about rights and protections for tenants

Almost four years ago Yessica Zavaleta moved to South Central Los Angeles, to a garage that had been converted into a home.

She says that everything was going well until the beginning of the year, when this mother of three minors – one of them suffers from autism – received a verbal notification from the owner, who asked her to leave the house.

He adds that his lease was by agreement with the landlord and that he made the rent payments in cash each month. However, she did not receive any proof of such contributions.

Zavaleta indicates that until recently he was unaware that the place he inhabits was illegally converted into a two-story property. Now, it seems unfair to him that in the midst of the pandemic they ask him to vacate the home.

He comments that the apparent excuse is that “the inspector came and said [al dueño] that I had to leave ”.

However, even though the garage is being occupied on both floors, she notes that the owner has only asked her to leave. The owner’s son lives on the second floor and he is not facing eviction.

Zavaleta, worried about her future and that of her children, began to search for a place to live without success. In the garage she paid $ 1,000 in rent but couldn’t find any other place for the same price.

The coronavirus pandemic soon followed, and the city of Los Angeles indicated that property owners were unable to evict their tenants. Zavaleta decided to stay at her home located on 43rd Street near Avalon Boulevard.

However, the harassment continued on the part of the owner of the house who, according to she said this Friday, for about four months began to offend her every time he sees her outside the garage. She has also threatened to call the police to evict her.

“He yells at me about things and tells me that it’s my fault that they have problems [con la ciudad] but I did not build the garage. They did it, “said Zavaleta. “I can’t even take out the trash during the day because they are harassing me.”

ACCE came to Zavaleta’s house to support her. (ACCE)

Tired of the situation, she decided to ask a community organization for help to get advice.

Zavaleta commented that for the last six months he has not paid the rent due to the problem he has but that each month he has set aside that money with money orders to demonstrate that he does have it.

He also said that some time ago they took away a portable air conditioner that he had with the excuse that he could not have it in the garage. And almost a month ago, the power was temporarily cut off and returned. But since Tuesday of this week, he adds, the hot water supply was withdrawn and until yesterday it had not been returned.

This Friday, members of the tenant organization ACCE Action gathered in front of the Zavaleta home to show their support and let the owner understand that the tenants also have rights.

Guadalupe González, a tenant organizer for ACCE, said the landlord instead of following the law that requires Zavaleta to receive a monetary amount to relocate has opted for the harassment.

“It is unacceptable that they have taken away the hot water,” he added.

Zavaleta filed a complaint with the LA Housing Community Investment Department (HCIDLA) and received a notice in late June confirming that her housing unit is not approved by the city.

Months before, the department sent a letter to the landlord stating the steps she had to take to evict her tenant. This included filing a written eviction notice, filing a statement with HCIDLA, and paying a relocation to the tenant that ranges from $ 8,500 to $ 21,200.

La Opinion tried to contact the owner but until the closing of this edition, there was no response.

Tenants have rights

Attorney Elena Popp, director of the Eviction Defense Network, said it is common to see tenants living in illegally built homes and where their landlords do not give them receipts after paying cash for the rent.

However, he assured that in California not having a written contract is not a problem of the tenant.

“My office has won many cases of tenants who do not have a contract and who also do not have proof that they have paid the rent because frankly a jury does not believe the owner who let a person live for four years without paying rent,” he explained.

He added that in the city of Los Angeles when a tenant is living in a unit that was built illegally and without permission to rent it, the owner does not have the right to collect the rent.

Also, before the person leaves, the landlord must give the tenant the relocation aid required by the city, the amount of which depends on the size of the family.

“Zavaleta does not have to leave immediately, he does not have to pay rent and they have to give him his relocation money because what this owner has done is 100% illegal,” Popp said.

“Renting was illegal, trying to kick her out without a court process was illegal, taking away her water services was illegal and as a result of all that she has the right to stay until she is relocated.”

If you or someone you know has housing problems, you can contact the Eviction Defense Network at consulta@edn.la

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