Ladera Heights Eviction of Woman, 102, Sparks Investigation by L.A. County Officials

Thelma Smith, who has been living at her Ladera Heights home for 30 years, is seen in a photo pictured on the right. She was being evicted from the residence in May 2019 so the landlord’s daughter could move in, drawing concern from her longtime neighbor, Pauline Cooper, who is seen on the left. (Credit: Gary Coronado/ Los Angeles Times)

by: Los Angeles Times

Posted: May 27, 2019 / 05:27 AM PDT

Updated: May 27, 2019 / 05:27 AM PDT

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Los Angeles County is investigating whether an eviction notice sent to a 102-year-old woman at her longtime home in Ladera Heights violated temporary renter protections approved by lawmakers last year.

Thelma Smith, 102, has rented in a small complex in an unincorporated area of Ladera Heights for nearly three decades. She received an eviction notice in March, telling her to move out of her Craftsman-style home by the end of June so the landlord’s daughter could move in.

The county’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs is now investigating whether the eviction notice complied with interim rental protections that the Board of Supervisors approved last fall.

Contacting all the parties involved and gathering information will take several business days, spokesman Keven Chavez said. Evictions can be delayed or stopped if the landlord did not comply with county policies, he said.

Read the full story at LATimes.com.