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Foreclosed? Yes. Grounds for eviction? Not a chance.

By Jessica GarrisonStaff Writer 
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Los Angeles landlords love to hate the city’s tough rules governing evictions. Those rules are so strict that even if a landlord loses his house to foreclosure — his or her tenants still may have the right to stay. City Council President Eric Garcetti will stage a press conference today in front of a foreclosed Echo Park triplex to call on Countrywide Financial to “cease and desist illegal eviction practices.”

Garcetti’s office said Countrywide foreclosed on the landlord, and then tried to illegally pressure the tenants into leaving, offering them $2,000 to go -- which might sound nice but is peanuts compared to the minimum $7,000 fee required by city law.

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It’s the second time, Garcetti’s office said, that they have busted Countrywide for trying to get away with not paying the city’s full relocation fee. In July, tenants in South Los Angeles were offered $1,000 to move.

Garcetti’s office also said anyone who thinks they are being illegally pushed out should call the city’s housing department at 1-888-557-RENT.

-- Jessica Garrison

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Photo Credit: L.A. Times

Money & Company
Jessica Garrison

Jessica Garrison writes about Northern California for the Los Angeles Times. She has previously covered Los Angeles City Hall, courts, education and the environment. As a reporter, her work has won a National Magazine Award for Public Service, among other honors. Work she has edited has won a George Polk Award and was a finalist for a Goldsmith Prize. Her book, “The Devil’s Harvest,” told the story of a contract killer who stalked Central Valley farm towns for years while authorities failed to bring him to justice. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley.

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