Renters say officials fail to enforce safe housing
David Wagner
covers housing in Southern California, a place where the lack of affordable housing contributes to homelessness.
Published May 22, 2025 3:50 PM
Dark smoke rises behind homes in Altadena during the Eaton Fire.
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Adriana Martinez
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Topline:
Pasadena and Altadena renters whose homes were covered in toxic ash during January’s wildfires are now suing local government officials for allegedly failing to inspect their units and require landlords to carry out necessary cleaning.
The details: Individual renters, along with two tenant unions, filed lawsuits Wednesday against the city of Pasadena and the L.A. County Department of Public Health. Citing previous LAist reporting, the complaints allege local officials have refused to enforce tenants’ right to a safe, habitable home.
The backstory: Public health officials have warned residents that ash carried by the Eaton Fire contains levels of lead harmful to human health. But when renters have asked the city and county to intervene with landlords who have refused to arrange for professional cleaning, officials have said tenants need to hire a lawyer and pursue a civil case on their own.
Read on… to learn how Pasadena and L.A. County officials are responding to the lawsuits, and how tenants have been dealing with the lack of clarity.
Pasadena and Altadena renters whose homes were covered in toxic ash during January’s wildfires are now suing local officials for allegedly failing to inspect their units and require landlords to carry out necessary cleaning.
Individual renters, along with two tenant unions, filed lawsuits Wednesday against the city of Pasadena and the L.A. County Department of Public Health. Citing previous LAist reporting, the complaints allege local officials have refused to enforce tenants’ right to a safe, habitable home.
But the renters say that when they asked the city and county to intervene with landlords who refused to arrange for professional cleaning, they were told they needed to hire lawyers and pursue civil cases on their own.
“It felt like, because we weren't homeowners, we weren't really being taken seriously,” said plaintiff Brenda Lyon.
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Renters sue Pasadena and LA County over toxic ash cleanup, lack of enforcement
The other plaintiffs include the Pasadena Tenants Union, the recently formed Altadena Tenants Union and three other renters who allege Pasadena and L.A. County officials failed to uphold their legal obligation to enforce habitable housing conditions.
The city of Pasadena declined to comment on the lawsuits. County authorities have not yet responded to LAist’s request for comment.
Local officials told renters to take their issues to court
Lyon said she, her husband and their baby were forced to leave their duplex unit in Pasadena’s Bungalow Heaven neighborhood when the Eaton Fire ignited on Jan. 7.
After the fires died down and the family was able to return, Lyon said they found the home covered in ash and soot. When she asked her landlord about plans for cleaning, she said she was told no remediation work would be provided, and if she didn’t like it, she could move out.
Lyon said she pleaded with Pasadena officials to enforce her family’s right to a habitable home, but the city’s response was to tell her to pursue a civil case against her landlord.
“We were displaced for three months,” Lyon said. “We used our own personal money” to deal with smoke damage, she added.
Pasadena renter Brenda Lyon speaks at a podium in front of a downtown Los Angeles courthouse.
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David Wagner
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LAist
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How Pasadena and L.A. County are responding
In response to LAist’s questions about the lawsuit, Pasadena city spokesperson Lisa Derderian said in an email: “The city has not been served with the lawsuit so can’t comment at this time.”
Earlier this year, Pasadena officials told LAist that disputes over ash can lead to civil cases between landlords and tenants. They told tenants that the city will not get involved because the word “ash” is not specifically mentioned in the city’s building code.
LAist also reached out to the L.A. County Department of Public Health for comment. Officials did not respond in time for this story.
Looking ahead to future fires
Attorney Lena Silver with Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles, who is representing tenants in both lawsuits, said the goal is to obtain a court order requiring local officials to inspect rental housing and enforce habitability standards when it comes to wildfire smoke damage.
“No one here is seeking money — we're seeking enforcement of the law,” Silver said. “Unfortunately, we know that it's likely that there could be future urban fires in Los Angeles and in California. Our lawsuit would help future tenants clarify the law.”
The question of who is responsible for cleaning apartments coated in ash after a wildfire has been a source of much confusion for tenants, landlords and local government agencies.
For example, after a code enforcement director in the city of L.A. said tenants would be responsible for cleaning ash inside their own units, city housing officials later changed their guidance and said landlords are responsible for such work.
It’s standard for renters insurance policies to cover damage to a tenant’s personal property, such as their furniture and clothing. But damage to the actual home — including the walls, windows and HVAC systems — is typically addressed by landlords through their homeowners insurance policies.
However, some landlords have told tenants they fear that filing a smoke damage claim could cause their insurance costs to rise.
Where displaced renters have been staying
Landlord refusals have left some renters unable to return to their homes, forcing them to pay for temporary relocation costs on top of their usual rent.
“We hear from families who are living in their cars and edging closer to homelessness every single day,” said Katie Clark, an organizer with the Altadena Tenants Union. “Throughout all of this, Los Angeles County has been virtually silent.”
Clark said other renters have had no choice but to return to smoke-damaged units and suffer the negative health consequences.
Lyon, the Pasadena renter, was able to get her landlord to agree to finish cleaning after Neighborhood Legal Services sent the landlord a demand letter. But she said this lawsuit is needed because many tenants cannot afford an attorney or find free legal aid.
“[Renters] should feel comfortable saying, per the state of California, my property is not habitable,” Lyon said. “Their city should support them and say, ‘You know what, we're going to send someone to do a check on your property, and then if your landlord doesn't comply, we're going to do a citation.’
"That’s why we're here today — to protect tenants of the future.”
The lawsuits were filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Cesar Becerra Jr. happily receives a gift from church members at Rock of Salvation.
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Jonathan Olivares
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Boyle Heights Beat
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Topline:
If you’re looking to donate, volunteer or find ways to give back, we’ve rounded up a list to help you get started.
Why now: With the holiday season underway, organizations across Boyle Heights and East LA are seeking volunteers to help distribute food, assemble bicycles, sort toys and sponsor families in need.
Local food distributions: The Weingart East LA YMCA hosts a food distribution every Monday and Wednesday to ensure families have access to nutritious meals. Volunteers are needed for each food distribution from 8:45 a.m. to noon.
Read on ... for other ways to give back on the Eastside.
This story was originally published by Boyle Heights Beat on Nov. 25.
With the holiday season underway, organizations across Boyle Heights and East LA are seeking volunteers to help distribute food, assemble bicycles, sort toys and sponsor families in need.
If you’re looking to donate, volunteer or find ways to give back, we’ve rounded up a list to help you get started.
Build bicycles and organize donations at a toy giveaway
The Weingart East LA YMCA is hosting its 19th Annual Toy Giveaway on Dec. 18, and volunteers are needed to help prepare toys and provide support. Before the event, volunteers can help by assembling bicycles and sorting and organizing toys on Dec. 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers are also needed to assist on event day from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Weingart East LA YMCA hosts a food distribution every Monday and Wednesday to ensure families have access to nutritious meals. Volunteers are needed for each food distribution from 8:45 a.m. to noon.
Mercado al Aire Libre, which started earlier this month, provides families with free, fresh and seasonal produce on the first and second Wednesdays of every month at its farmers-market-style food distribution. The mercado takes place from 10 a.m. to noon on the first Wednesday of the month and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the second Wednesday. The next mercado will be on Dec. 3.
Address: Salesian Family Youth Center, 2228 E. Fourth St., Los Angeles
How to volunteer: Those interested in volunteering can reach out to Celene Rodriguez by phone at (323) 243-5758 or email at celene@visionycompromiso.org.
Drop off toys at First Street businesses
LAFC’s Expo Originals supporters group is collecting new, unwrapped toys and Venmo donations ahead of its annual community toy drive Dec. 14. Venmo contributions will go toward toy purchases, and the last day to donate is Dec. 6. Toys can be dropped off in person at the locations below until Dec. 13.
Proyecto Pastoral is collecting new jackets to keep its participants at the Guadalupe Homeless Shelter warm.
Where to donate: Jackets can be dropped off at the Proyecto Pastoral office located at 135 N. Mission Road from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sponsor a family, child or classroom ahead of the holidays
Proyecto Pastoral has many opportunities for the community to give back during its Holiday Drive this year. Those interested in fulfilling holiday wishes for a family, child or classroom have until Dec. 1 to register. Proyecto Pastoral will pair sponsors with community members in need to fulfill items from their wish list.
Individual toys also can be dropped off at Proyecto Pastoral’s office. The toys will be distributed to children who participate in Proyecto Pastoral’s youth programs at their end-of-year celebrations.
Makenna Sievertson
breaks down evolving policies and programs with a focus on the housing and homelessness challenges confronting some of SoCal's most vulnerable residents.
Published November 25, 2025 2:51 PM
California Attorney General Rob Bonta during a news conference Aug. 2.
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Myung J. Chun
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Getty Images
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Topline:
Greystar, which manages hundreds of properties in California, has agreed to pay $7 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the company and other landlords used a price scheme to raise rents artificially high.
Background: In January, Greystar was named as a defendant in an antitrust lawsuit filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the U.S. Department of Justice and several other states against software company RealPage, which officials say uses algorithmic models to recommend price increases to subscribers.
Bonta alleges that Greystar used RealPage’s system to coordinate rental prices with other landlords by illegally sharing and gathering confidential information. According to his office, RealPage’s “price alignment scheme” affected rentals across the country, especially in multifamily buildings in Southern California, including in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Bernardino.
The settlement: Bonta announced last week that, as part of the settlement, Greystar has agreed to stop using software that uses competitively sensitive information to set rent prices, including from RealPage.
The company has also agreed to cooperate in the federal prosecution of RealPage and the other landlords named as defendants, such as Camden and Willow Bridge.
Greystar statement: Greystar told LAist that it’s “pleased this matter is resolved,” and the company “remain[s] focused on serving our residents and clients.”
Go deeper ... for more information on the case.
Greystar, which manages hundreds of properties in California, has agreed to pay $7 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the company and other landlords used a price scheme to raise rents artificially high.
In January, Greystar was named as a defendant in an antitrust lawsuit filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the U.S. Department of Justice and several other states against software company RealPage, which officials say uses algorithmic models to recommend price increases to subscribers.
Bonta alleges Greystar used RealPage’s system to coordinate rental prices with other landlords by illegally sharing and gathering confidential information. According to his office, RealPage’s “price alignment scheme” affected rentals across the country, especially in multifamily buildings in Southern California, including in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Bernardino.
"Whether it's through smoke-filled backroom deals or through an algorithm on your computer screen, colluding to drive up prices is illegal,” Bonta said in a statement. “Companies that intentionally fuel this unaffordability by raising prices to line their own pockets can be sure I will use the full force of my office to hold them accountable.”
Details on the settlement
Greystar is the largest landlord in the U.S., according to the Department of Justice, managing nearly 950,000 rental units across the country. In California, the company manages about 333 multifamily rental properties that use RealPage’s pricing software, according to Bonta’s office.
Bonta announced last week that as part of the settlement, Greystar has agreed to stop using software that uses competitively sensitive information to set rent prices, including from RealPage.
The company also has agreed to cooperate in the federal prosecution of RealPage and the other landlords named as defendants, such as Camden and Willow Bridge.
Greystar said in a statement to LAist that it’s “pleased this matter is resolved” and the company “remain[s] focused on serving our residents and clients.”
Settlement with RealPage
The U.S. Justice Department’s Antitrust Division filed a proposed settlement with RealPage on Monday to resolve its claims against the company.
If the settlement is approved by the court, RealPage would be required to stop using competitors’ private, sensitive information to set rental prices and remove or redesign features in its software that limited price drops or aligned prices between competitors, according to the Justice Department.
RealPage also would be required to cooperate in the lawsuit against property management companies that have used its software and agree to a court-appointed monitor to make sure it complies with the proposed settlement.
Dirk Wakeham, president and CEO of RealPage, said in a statement Monday that the proposed resolution marks an important milestone for the company and its customers.
"We are pleased to have reached this agreement with the DOJ, which brings the clarity and stability we have long sought and allows us to move forward with a continued focus on innovation and the shared goal of better outcomes for both housing providers and renters,” Wakeham said.
RealPage denies any wrongdoing, attorney Stephen Weissman said in a statement.
Kavish Harjai
writes about transportation policy in L.A.
Published November 25, 2025 2:29 PM
One of the appeals partially accepted stemmed from a road safety project the city completed on Hollywood Boulevard last year.
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Courtesy of Los Angeles Department of Transportation
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Topline:
On Monday, Los Angeles officials considered claims that it did not install Measure HLA-mandated mobility upgrades where it should have. But the Board of Public Works rejected most of the claims, meaning the city maintains its position that it has been doing road work largely in accordance with Measure HLA. It was the first hearing of its kind since the city began accepting appeals this summer.
Measure HLA: The ordinance requires the city to install mobility upgrades, like bike lanes and pedestrian signal improvements, when it resurfaces at least one-eighth of a mile of certain streets throughout the city. As of August, L.A. city residents can file appeals claims to the Board of Public Works explaining why they think the city was not complying with Measure HLA. For more instructions and an explanation on that process, you can read LAist’s story here.
First round of appeals: The Board of Public Works partially sided with the appellant in one appeal and rejected the other six. Joe Linton, in his capacity as a resident and not as editor of Streetsblog L.A., filed all the appeals heard on Monday. “It’s the very first time, so we’re kind of throwing a lot of spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks,” Linton told LAist. “Not a lot stuck.”
One appeal approved: Linton partially won his appeal claiming the city did not adequately install pedestrian improvements along a nearly half-mile portion of Hollywood Boulevard that it resurfaced last year. The city said it will publish an “appeals resolution plan” to fix sidewalks there within the next six months. “It was really obvious to me that the city’s justification … was not true, so I was glad that that was acknowledged,” Linton said.
Most rejected: In the other six appeals, the Board of Public Works agreed that the city’s work was properly exempted from Measure HLA because it only involved restriping the road. Linton had argued in those appeals that the city's work should have triggered Measure HLA because it involved reconfiguring lanes, modifying parking and adding new signage.
More appeals to be heard: The Board of Public Works on Monday will hear four additional appeals Linton filed.
Yusra Farzan
covers Orange County and its 34 cities, watching those long meetings — boards, councils and more — so you don’t have to.
Published November 25, 2025 2:19 PM
Newport Beach residents to decide on plan to build far fewer housing units in the city.
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Allen J. Schaben
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Los Angeles Times
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Topline:
Newport Beach voters will decide if they want to replace a state-approved housing plan with one that zones for far fewer new homes in 2026.
How we got here: Proponents of the plan called the Responsible Housing Initiative say the state-approved housing plan will negatively affect quality of life.
About the initiative: The initiative rejects the city’s current housing plan — which allows for more than 8,000 homes — and instead proposes just 2,900 homes exclusively for extremely low-, very low-, low- and moderate-income households.
The state-approved city plan: According to California law, Newport Beach needs to build 4,845 new units — 3,436 of which must be affordable for very low-, low- and moderate-income households.
Read on ... for more on next steps and tug-of-war over development plans.
Newport Beach voters will decide if they want to replace a state-approved housing plan with one that allows for far fewer new homes in 2026.
Proponents of the plan, called the Responsible Housing Initiative, say the current plan will make the city overcrowded and negatively affect quality of life.
“This isn’t downtown Los Angeles,” said Charles Klobe, president of Still Protecting Our Newport, which backs the Responsible Housing Initiative.
Last week, city leaders voted to put the initiative in front of voters after the Newport Beach Stewardship Association submitted the Responsible Housing Initiative petition with more than 8,000 signatures. The initiative rejects the city’s current housing plan and instead proposes an amendment to the general plan to facilitate the development of 2,900 homes exclusively for extremely low-, very low-, low- and moderate-income households.
The city’s current housing plan, which has the backing of the state, allows for more than 8,000 homes, including the required affordable housing units.
“ We're against the city building more market rate than the state required. We believe it's a giveaway to developers who will fund re-election campaigns of the council,” Klobe said.
What does California law require?
California’s Housing Element Law sets housing targets for local governments to meet, including for affordable units. It allows the state to intervene every eight years to let cities know how much housing they must plan for. The law also requires cities to put together a housing element showcasing how they will achieve the state’s plan. The state then approves of the element or sends it back to cities to reconfigure according to the requirements.
According to California law, Newport Beach needs to build 4,845 new units — 3,436 of which must be affordable for very low-, low- and moderate-income households. According to the city, Newport Beach can’t just plan for affordable housing units “because that would assume all future projects would be 100% affordable, which is not realistic based on previous development experiences.” And so, the city’s rezone plans include more than 8,000 units.
Councilmember Robyn Grant said during the council meeting that she’s not in favor of the state mandate. But, she added, “After extensive legal analysis and public outreach and workshops and hearings and meetings and more meetings, this council approved an updated general plan to bring Newport Beach into compliance and avoid serious penalties, including the loss of local land use control."
Newport Beach did appeal the state’s housing mandates on the grounds that it did not take into account how some of the city’s coastal lands are protected from urban development, but the appeal was rejected.
To learn more about how Newport Beach arrived at its state-approved housing plan, click here.
What is the Responsible Housing Initiative proposing?
The Responsible Housing Initiative counts the number of housing units already in development and proposes an additional 2,900 affordable housing units to meet the state mandate.
Klobe said they believe the initiative will receive state backing because “they claim to want affordable housing and our initiative requires it.”
Supporters of the measure contend the city’s current plan will increase the population, result in excessive traffic and disrupt the quality of life. They also sued Newport Beach for not first going to voters, but they failed in court.
To learn more about the Responsible Housing Initiative, click here.
What’s next
Voters will have a chance to weigh in on the Responsible Housing Initiative in November 2026.
