Sample units at 403 Figueroa Drive (Photos – Senator Sasha Renée Pérez)
Los Angeles County officials have launched an urgent, multi‑agency response after tenants at a multifamily residential building in Altadena reported severe habitability issues in the aftermath of the January 2025 Eaton Fire.
By News Desk
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday, May 19, to approve an urgency motion authored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger, directing departments to intervene at the property located at 403 Figueroa Drive.
Tenants Describe Unsafe Conditions and Fear of Retaliation
During a site inspection earlier in the day, conducted by representatives from Supervisor Barger’s office, the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs under the Rental Housing Habitability Program, residents described a long list of unsafe and deteriorating conditions. These included:
- Active cockroach infestations
- Rodent activity and rat droppings
- Recurring leaks and plumbing failures
- Prolonged lack of hot water
- Broken or unsecured windows
- Inadequate ventilation
- Concerns about incomplete post‑fire remediation
Some tenants reported paying out‑of‑pocket for repairs due to long delays in maintenance response. Others alleged intimidation and retaliation, including threats involving law enforcement or federal immigration authorities.
Supervisor Barger condemned the conditions, stating that “families recovering from the Eaton Fire should not be forced to live in unsafe, unhealthy, or intimidating conditions.” She emphasized that renters already displaced or destabilized by wildfire impacts deserve “dignity, protection, and a landlord who meets basic legal responsibilities.”
County Launches Immediate, Multi‑Agency Intervention
The urgency motion directs several rapid‑response actions:
- Onsite tenant counseling and support at the Altadena One‑Stop Center
- Comprehensive inspections of the property, with corrective orders or violations issued as needed
- Investigations into other properties owned or managed by Regency Management, Inc. in unincorporated Los Angeles County
- Coordination with cities countywide to encourage similar inspections where appropriate
The motion also requires a 30‑day report on existing tenant protections under the Rental Housing Habitability Program, including recommendations to strengthen enforcement authority, staffing, and tenant safeguards.
Additionally, the Department of Public Works has been instructed to conduct a full building and safety inspection, assessing potential hazards involving gas, propane, electrical systems, ventilation, occupancy, and appliances.
Protecting Tenants During Disaster Recovery
Barger stressed that wildfire survivors must not face further instability due to unsafe housing or fear of retaliation for reporting problems. “Our County has a responsibility to ensure tenants can safely remain in their homes while rebuilding their lives after disaster,” she said. “No resident should ever fear retaliation for speaking up about dangerous living conditions.”
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