West Hollywood Patch

Tenants' Rights Group Offers Free Legal Advice

A local tenants' rights orgnization offers free legal consultations twice a week at the Plummer Park Community Center in West Hollywood.

The nonprofit Coalition for Economic Survival (CES) hosts a Tenants' Rights Clinic each Wednesday at 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. each Saturday.

CES Executive Director Larry Gross said some of the major issues tackled at the clinic are:

• Evictions
• Landlords refusing to make needed repairs
• Housing code violations
• Getting security deposits returned
• Landlord harassment

"The Clinic is not limited to West Hollywood residents, though a large percentage of attendees come from West Hollywood," Gross said. "We've had tenants come to the clinic from as far north as Bakersfield, as far south as the San Diego area and as far east as Riverside and San Bernardino counties. This is an indication that these services are not readily available, especially to those who can't afford an attorney or are not legal aid eligible."

Volunteer attorneys and expert counselors provide tenants with information about their rights on a one-to-one basis. If a tenant needs to retain a lawyer, they are referred to tenants' rights attorneys or legal service agencies for further assistance.

"The clinics also provide the Coalition for Economic Survival with information on trends that landlords may be currently using to abuse tenants or on loopholes in laws that are used by landlords," Gross said. "CES has identified this type of information in the past to plug these loopholes and win stronger legislative protections for tenants."

The clinics function on a first come, first serve basis. Donations are requested but not required.

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