Renters rally for stronger protections against tenant harassment

On Thursday, in North Hills, a few dozen renters rallied to call for changes to tenants' rights across Los Angeles, demanding lawmakers enact better protections from predatory landlords.

The advocate-tenants drove around the community, going to apartment complexes where they feel tenants are being victimized and pointing out vacant lots where they believe affordable housing could be built.

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KNX News' Emily Valdez spoke with one renter, Jenny Colon, who has lived in her current apartment complex since the mid-90s, but when her mother decided to leave the unit they shared, Colon said things became contentious.

According to Colon, "I went to take my rent in April last year, and they simply told me no. The manager refused it."

She called the off-site property management company, who said they would only accept her check once she filled out a new tenant application; "But by filling out a new tenant application, they would double or nearly triple my rent," said Colon.

Then there's the harassment. "[The manager] had me followed, he has left me without access to a toilet," Colon said.

Valdez knocked on the apartment manager's door to get his response, but there was no answer.

The group hopes that holding this mobile rally will raise awareness of the issues and recruit more renters to stand up and speak out about tenant harassment.

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