Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously last week to consider a new policy halting the demolition of properties while they’re under investigation for alleged violations of the Ellis Act.
Under the Ellis Act, landlords can evict tenants if they’re planning to remove their units from the rental market.
The vote was prompted by the controversial demolition of a multifamily building at 1332-1334 N. Formosa Avenue in January, the Beverly Press reported.
The owner of the Hollywood apartment building, which evicted tenants through the Ellis Act, partially demolished the property despite a stop work order from the L.A. Department of Building and Safety. Its construction permit had been revoked because the landlord, Belmond Homes LP, was under investigation for allegedly illegally renting the vacant units on Airbnb.
The landlord and Airbnb are the subjects of a lawsuit filed in January by six former tenants of the building. The tenants allege Belmond violated the Ellis Act by re-renting their vacated apartments. Belmond denied any wrongdoing. [BP] — Subrina Hudson