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More than nine months after fires destroyed more than 12,000 homes in Los Angeles County, some surviving homes still haven\u2019t been cleaned.<\/p>\n
The toxic debris spewed into these homes remains, in many cases because landlords refused to pay for remediation services.<\/p>\n
This month, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new bill<\/a> into law, stipulating in no uncertain terms that landlords must clean rental homes covered in debris from natural disasters, including fires.<\/p>\n But that doesn\u2019t mean much has changed yet for tenants still displaced from their old homes<\/a>. Some have given up on ever returning.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re still fighting to clear a rental home of harmful post-fire debris, here are some tips on how to seek help.<\/p>\n Where to start<\/p>\n Start by contacting the local authorities responsible for enforcing tenants\u2019 right to a habitable home.<\/p>\n If you live within the city of Los Angeles, near the Palisades Fire burn zone, you should contact the L.A. Housing Department. A department spokesperson said your first step should be to file a code violation complaint at this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you live near the Eaton Fire burn zone, your point of contact will vary based on where you live.<\/p>\n In Altadena, the L.A. County Department of Public Health has committed to respond to tenant complaints about post-fire ash, soot and smoke damage. You can file a complaint<\/a> by emailing DPH-RHHP@ph.lacounty.gov<\/a> or by calling (888) 700-9995 (select option 3).<\/p>\n In Pasadena, tenants can reach out<\/a> to the city\u2019s Code Compliance Division. Prior to the passage of SB 610, Pasadena officials maintained that local codes did not apply to post-fire debris in rental housing. But after Newsom signed the bill, a city spokesperson told LAist that local officials will change their messaging on landlord responsibilities.<\/p>\n How to escalate<\/p>\n If local officials remain unresponsive, don\u2019t give up. Local advocacy groups have been helping renters navigate this vexing issue for months now.<\/p>\n Perhaps the most active of these groups is the Altadena Tenants Union, which formed in the wake of the Eaton Fire<\/a> to push for tenant rights in the fire recovery process.<\/p>\n The Altadena Tenants Union\u2019s website features a detailed guide<\/a> to post-fire rental housing issues. The guide includes links to a form letter<\/a> you can use to demand action from your landlord, as well as tips on how to seek pro bono legal assistance.<\/p>\n