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What to do with a Landlord that gets physical with you (?)

Recently I had a situation where my Landlord whom has been routinely and maliciously violating Cal. Civil Code Section 1940.2 and 1954 (This code deals with the Owners need to serve a 24 Hour Written Notice prior to entering a dwelling, unless it's an 911 emergency which this was not), Health & Safety Code Section 17920.3 (Which specifically states what the Landlords Legal Duties to Perform are and they are duly noted).

For months (from Dec 2005 to March 2007), this Landlord / Property Owner has refused to make any and all required repairs to his rental property.

So recently I called the Los Angeles City Dept. of Building & Safety and filed a formal complaint against my Landlord "Jose Raul Martinez".

When the Inspector came out to inspect the house, he duly noted over one dozen violations and has since issue a Substandard Condition Order that the Landlord must address within the next 30 days or face fines and possible prosecution by the City Attorney's Office and or County D.A.'s Office.

These repairs are so severe that the property should have never been rented to me and my family in the first place and this Landlord has been acting in "BAD FAITH", since day one.

A few days ago he was on the grounds after 5 p.m. without notifying me again, s I called 911 and filed a trespassing Police Complaint against him with the L.A.P.D. while I was on my portable cordless telephone, he grabbed it out of my hand leaving very deep bleeding scratch marks (I call them claw marks, I have digital photo's of them that I took after the incident occurred) thereon my right hand.

I notified the L.A.P.D. of this too and they incorporated it into their Police Report on April 16, 2007. On Friday April 28, 2007 I went to the Los Angeles City Dept. of Building & Safety to obtain a copy of the inspector's report (it was 4 pages long and duly noted 12 violations).

When I arrived home about 4:30 P.M. the Landlord was again at the property in the back yard area, I informed him that I had mail for him and therein the mail I attached a copy of the 4 page Los Angeles City Dept. of Building & Safety Report.

The Landlord went crazy and started to act very violent towards me. I went inside the house got my video camera and recorded him while I called 911.

The L.A.P.D. advise me it was a civil matter and that they couldn’t or wouldn't get involved even though the Landlord was Physically Trespassing, Harassing me and my Family (it's like slow torture)(?)

I believe it's not only a civil matter it's also a criminal matter given what my Landlord has done already and what he plans to do in the future (more Harassment, Threats Etc.).

In Los Angeles, the Landlord is only allowed to perform repairs during normal business hours 9-5 Mon-Fri. (Unless it's a true emergency)!

Otherwise he must leave and come back to finish his work on another business day during business hours per Cal. Civil Code Section 1954.

This Landlord thinks it's legal for him to should up without any type of notice, regardless of the time of day (this is pure Harassment and a violation of right of privacy and quiet enjoyment).

Initially when I moved me and my family into this Three (3) Bedroom One (1) Bath House in Granada Hills, I had no idea that the house had the habitability problems that it did, our Landlord and his female partner (*girlfriend???) never disclosed this data to me or to my family, we found out all of the problems the hard way after the fact.

If he had told me about all these Habitability Problems I would have never rented this house from him for the $1,400.00 per month!

Note, some of the problems had been covered up and other existed but without my knowledge (or until I tried to use the Appliance (Heater? AC Unit, the Stove and Oven, Electrical Outlets, faulty Plumbing, Kitchen Fan Lamps and a list of other things).

In my eyes he is a "SLUM LORD LANDLORD" of the worse kind, who is not from this country (he's from El Salvador, Central America) thus he doesn't believe in our legal system, laws and the rights of our citizens!

So why the _______ is is he here (?)

It appears that this situation is headed for the Superior Court, I have started to video tape and photograph the Landlord whenever he is on the property after normal business hours 9-5 Mon-Fri (per the L.A.P.D.), in addition to all the duly noted habitability violations and problems with this house / rental property.

This evidence can then be used to prosecute him for Harassment / Acts of Terrorism, Trespassing and others as well as other violations under California Civil Law that this Landlord has intentionally and maliciously violated.

One biggest mistake with this Landlord was we never had a formal written lease or rental agreement, it was all done verbally.

But I do keep good notes and records and I pay him with certified funds (money orders that are proof of rents paid).

If I do go to court I will be demanded a full refund of all rents paid from Dec 2005 to the Present Date, Plus Legal Fee's and Court Costs. I may also demand Punitive and Compensatory Damages for his intentional and malicious violations of my and my family rights to privacy!

If you want to write to me about this situation, or if you have any really good advice for me I can be e-mailed at TheItalianice2006@yahoo.com.