Housing conditions/habitability

We have been reporting that we have bedbugs since December 2007. The manager finally got someone to come and spray in May 2008. Then the bedbug problem continued and we asked them to spray again and they didn't come and spray until July 19th 2008. They didn't even use the right stuff to spray to get rid of them. We have been throwing out our personal belongings ever since March 2008. We have finally started buying bed bug stuff to treat ourselves. Now our manager has given us an eviction notice. Where's the justice in that.

I experienced discrimination in housing because of my family size and my daughter's and my own disability. I also had problems with mold in my apartment that the landlord didn't want to take care of. Tenant Organizing is important because people need to know what their rights are and to learn how to keep their housing. Through my circumstances I learned how to fight back and educate my neighbors to defend their rights and go to the right agencies before they lose their housing.

This past Fall I was looking for a place in San Francisco with a couple friends of mine. We were looking for something affordable, but all had steady jobs and so were fairly flexible in how much we could pay. Plus we were looking for a place with two or three bedrooms knowing we were going to have to most-likely bring in other housemates besides the three of us.

You will all love this!
My boyfriend and I moved into the apartment on Doheny 10 years ago. Within 8 months of being there, problems started to arise. First with plumbing, then electricity and we even were hassled for planting a beautiful garden in the back yard (which was previously a heap of garbage)

We chose the apartment because the rent was insanely cheap and it is in an incredible location; hardwood floors, huge and built in the mid 40’s.

I am a financial aid student attending UCLA full time and believe me it is tough to save enough money to pay rent every month...not to mention I must also save enough money to pay for food, utilities, books, gasoline, etc. etc BUT on top of trying to save money I must also go to school full time, and work part time which makes it difficult to earn enough when rent is due. In Los Angeles, more specifically Westwood, rent is not cheap. For a two bedroom/two bath apartment prices range from $2300 and up.

My landlord continues to use the bottom floor of our apartment, illegally converted into a separate unit, as a party space. They are drunk and loud and have ruined our garden in the back yard. They forget to pay the electricity on a regular basis. We have already had our power shut off once because of this, and on several times only avoided a shut off because one of us happened to be home. Whenever we call them on their unprofessional and lax behavior, they become vicious and threatening.