By Lookout Staff

May 30, 2025 -- A Santa Monica landlord has agreed to pay $685,000 to settle three related tenant harassment and discrimination lawsuits and to no longer manage residential property in the city.

Two of the lawsuits were filed by tenants of the owner's rent-controlled triplex, while the third was brought by the City Attorney’s Office under local Tenant Harassment and Housing Anti-Discrimination ordinances, City officials said.

"The City’s case alleged that the landlord intentionally failed to register tenancies at his triplex with the Rent Control Board and to disclose to his tenants that they had just cause eviction and rent control protections," officials said.

The landlord then "harassed and intimidated the tenants, continuing to do so even after receiving multiple letters from the City."

The lawsuit also alleged that the landlord "falsely claimed he planned to owner-occupy" one of the units and evicted a family of four "while nearly simultaneously purchasing a $1.4 million dollar home for his family and placing the triplex up for sale."

The defendant "persistently and unlawfully entered the tenants’ unit and once yelled at the tenants in front of their minor children, making them cry" and removed the family's access to the outdoor common area, "all of which drove them to vacate in May 2023."

"The tenants were forced to move to a new apartment at significantly higher rent and the landlord re-rented their apartment at a higher rent."

The landlord also began harassing and retaliating against a tenant in a different unit after she "requested repairs and to replace her roommate as permitted by the Rent Control law."

The landlord demanded that she vacate the unit or sign a new lease as the sole tenant, requalify and pay a higher rent, the suit alleges.

"The landlord also took away multiple amenities, refused to make repairs and placed illegal and unreasonable conditions on roommate replacement, making the apartment unaffordable to the tenant."

The lawsuit alleged the landlord "intentionally discriminated" against the immunocompromised tenant "by refusing to consider her repeated requests" to remediate mold in the unit and temporarily relocate her, as required under the warranty of habitability.

"He responded to her requests, stating in writing that the building is not suitable for tenants with 'special conditions,' and that it is 'not a wise choice for someone with respiratory issues' or for those who 'require special care and attention.'"

As a part of the three settlements, the defendant agreed to "professionally test and remediate the mold" and "temporarily relocate the tenant during remediation, if necessary."

He also agreed to "hire a city-approved third-party property manager to manage any residential rental property he owns in the city" and "pay a minimum penalty of $10,000 per violation if he is found to violate the agreement."

In addition to the $685,000 in payments, the defendant agreed to a stipulated judgment and injunction in the City’s case.

“The City Attorney’s Office strives to educate landlords about their legal obligations under Santa Monica’s tenant protection laws and to gain voluntary compliance, but when a landlord adamantly refuses to comply, as was the case here, we vigorously enforce those laws,” said City Attorney Doug Sloan.