California law on cleaning rental homes after a fire has changed. Here’s how to get help

More than nine months after fires destroyed more than 12,000 homes in Los Angeles County, some surviving homes still haven’t been cleaned.

The toxic debris spewed into these homes remains, in many cases because landlords refused to pay for remediation services.

This month, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new bill into law, stipulating in no uncertain terms that landlords must clean rental homes covered in debris from natural disasters, including fires.

But that doesn’t mean much has changed yet for tenants still displaced from their old homes. Some have given up on ever returning.

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If you’re still fighting to clear a rental home of harmful post-fire debris, here are some tips on how to seek help.

Where to start 

Start by contacting the local authorities responsible for enforcing tenants’ right to a habitable home.

If you live within the city of Los Angeles, near the Palisades Fire burn zone, you should contact the L.A. Housing Department. A department spokesperson said your first step should be to file a code violation complaint at this link.

If you live near the Eaton Fire burn zone, your point of contact will vary based on where you live.

In Altadena, the L.A. County Department of Public Health has committed to respond to tenant complaints about post-fire ash, soot and smoke damage. You can file a complaint by emailing DPH-RHHP@ph.lacounty.gov or by calling (888) 700-9995 (select option 3).

In Pasadena, tenants can reach out to the city’s Code Compliance Division. Prior to the passage of SB 610, Pasadena officials maintained that local codes did not apply to post-fire debris in rental housing. But after Newsom signed the bill, a city spokesperson told LAist that local officials will change their messaging on landlord responsibilities.

How to escalate 

If local officials remain unresponsive, don’t give up. Local advocacy groups have been helping renters navigate this vexing issue for months now.

Perhaps the most active of these groups is the Altadena Tenants Union, which formed in the wake of the Eaton Fire to push for tenant rights in the fire recovery process.

The Altadena Tenants Union’s website features a detailed guide to post-fire rental housing issues. The guide includes links to a form letter you can use to demand action from your landlord, as well as tips on how to seek pro bono legal assistance.

The Pasadena Tenants Union has posted a similar guide for renters living within city borders.

If all else fails, call your representatives

If you’re still getting stuck, try reaching out to your state representatives.

State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, who introduced SB 610, is a Democrat representing a district that includes Altadena and Pasadena. She encouraged her constituents to contact her office for support.

Pérez’s office can be contacted at (626) 304-1086 or through this contact form on the district’s website.