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Judge rules Paso Robles slum lords can evict tenants

September 30, 2019

By CCT STAFF

A San Luis Obispo County judge is allowing the owners of a Paso Robles apartment complex that is infested with vermin and plagued with numerous other hazards to evict their tenants. On Friday, the owners of the 55 unit Grand View Apartments began serving 60 to 90 day eviction notices.

The Santa Barbara couple who own the property, Ebrahim and Fahimeh Madadi, are required to provide tenants $1,000 for relocation expenses and to return security deposits within seven days after tenants move out, according to court documents.

In May, a class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of tenants of the Grand View Apartments alleging a vermin infestation, severe mold and dangerous gas and electric lines, according to the suit. A few weeks later, Judge Ginger Garrett issued a temporary restraining order requiring the landlords to stop collecting rent until necessary repairs are made.

However, rather than make the repairs, estimated at $2.5 million, the landlords elected to close their business. While attorneys for the tenants argued that forcing the tenants to vacate was retaliatory against them for attempting to change their living conditions, Garrett ruled on behalf of the landlords.

“We are disappointed by the court’s ruling,” said attorney for the SLO Legal Assistance Foundation Stephanie Barclay. “We were hoping to get more time for the tenants, but unfortunately the law allows Grand View to go out of business instead of making the apartments safe and habitable for its tenants. Some municipalities have ordinances in place that provide extra tenant protections, but such protections do not exist in San Luis Obispo County.”


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This is just a blatant example of circumstances that are happening in many places of our country. The lack of affordable housing for lower and middle income residents in places that have desirable qualities that attract high income earners and investors. San Luis Obispo County has many residents who work in government, agriculture and service industries that do not make an income that can begin to keep pace with price of renting or owning a home. There is no shortage of the rich and super rich (who reside in this area or not) who can afford to buy investment properties and either turn them into vacation rentals or regular rentals, thereby killing the dream of a middle income earner of ever owning a home in this county. This makes renting their only option and they are at the mercy of skyrocketing rents. With a 2 bedroom apt. in North County SLO going for around $1500.00 per month, one must make at least $4500.00 if you have children. I have no clue as to what the answer to this may be but I know that in some states such as Hawaii, there are often 3 generations and extended family sharing a home and in the Bay area, full time working people are buying and living in campers and small RV’s. I do not blame either the tenants or the landlords in this particular situation. Both are victims of our societies inadequacies. But I am so sorry for the tenants that will lose their home.


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