Municipal Mobile Home Commission Meets for the First Time in Five Years

• Counsel Says Tenants May Have Case for Rent Reduction

BY BILL KOENEKER

The meeting of Malibu’s Mobilehome Rent Stabilization Commission for the first time in five years last week became a sounding board for Paradise Cove tenants who had a litany of complaints about the condition of their park.
The meeting was deemed important enough that both City Manager Jim Thorsen and City Attorney Christi Hogin were on hand to oversee commissioners Les Moss, newly-appointed Sam Hall Kaplan, Peter Tompkins, Bruce Gordon and Kathy Greco, who was absent.
Hogin explained to both commissioners and the angry and frustrated crowd of about 40 residents, almost all from Paradise Cove, that the allegations about the deteriorating conditions of the park were serious enough to warrant further action.
“We have taken note. There are many things you have said that may be the basis for a rent reduction. Many of the issues raised about trash, roads, fire road access—a lot of them would fall under the ordinance. There are rights you have,” said the city attorney, who noted it would be up to the tenants themselves possibly through the homeowners association to submit an application for rent reduction for reduced housing services.
Hogin said the commission could not respond at this time, but could consider the tenants’ complaints through the procedure established by the rent stabilization ordinance.
“We have heard you. Sadly these are not new problems. The remedy is through the application process,” she added.
The municipal official said it would be up to the residents to document their complaints.
“You are hearing a lot of frustration from people, who have not had a forum. They have had no place to go. No one to listen to them, Yes, you have a narrow purview, but it is up to you to make that judgment if the landlord has not lived up to the obligations. Kissel has not lived up to the obligations or duties,” said Lon Porter.
Porter told the commission that anytime complaints are made towards the Kissel Company head Steve Dahlberg, he replies, “‘I’m just going to sell the park.’ He makes this threat,” added Porter, who was joined in unison by the rest of the room, “all the time.”
Tenants said that even though the septic system is supposed to be fixed, there are still terrible smells and at times sewage still pooling in places. Others complained how the bad odors forced them to move from their units, lose friends who won’t visit them anymore and endure conditions that aggravate allergies.
Others spoke about how they were not sure the rent increases that were called for in the rent control law are legitimate.
One tenant cited an example of the rent that was set at $450 and increased from $650 to $952 to $1613 to finally $1936.
A 13-year-old youngster said the trash cans were removed from near the beaches and he was no longer able to remove trash or dog feces from the beach.
Another coach owner mentioned how they have endured for over five years as the progress or lack of it continued for the sewer improvements. There were days when the winds blew, spreading dust tinged with sewage through the park and into homes. “We had to water down the streets just like a Third World country. People had to leave their homes on doctors orders,” another tenant complained.
Driveways were not repaired, the sewer lines from the homes to the main lines were never replaced, parking spaces were removed and never replaced, the fire access road to the beach has not been maintained and the trees that loom over the park have not been trimmed were problems cited by various coach owners as examples.
“Cost is an issue in the absence of value,” said seven-year resident Wayne Ribnick. “Is every Consumer Price Index increase justified?”
The reference is to the automatic increases tied to the CPI that is called for in the ordinance.
For the last five years the increases have gone into effect without any challenge. Municipal officials, have in the past, maintained the increases are mandated by the law and are not subject to review.
This year residents began to question the arrangement and sought for the commission to meet in order to clarify the issues.
Matt Johnston had sent a letter to the city manager indicating the tenants had gotten a notice from Kissel for an annual rent increase of 4.2 percent and wanted the commission and city officials to do something about it.
“We believe this increase is without merit as the Kissel Company has failed to uphold their responsibilities required by the Mobilehome Residency Laws. Jim, we request that the Kissel Company’s request for a rent increase of 4.2 percent be denied,” Johnston wrote.