Municipal Mobile Home Commission Meets for
the First Time in Five Years
• Counsel Says Tenants May Have
Case for Rent Reduction
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.
