A Santa Monica landlord has agreed to pay tenants more than $18,000 and lower their rent by more than half after he was accused of illegally charging market-rate rent, officials with the Rent Control Board said Monday.
The Rent Control Board sued the landlord after he evicted a long-term tenant so that his disabled mother could move into the unit. Rather than move her in, the landlord instead made improvements to the unit and then rented it out for more than double the controlled rent, according to the board's complaint.
The settlement orders the landlord to reduce the rent from $2,950 per month to $1,254. The new tenants are a couple with a small child. The old tenant who was displaced chose not to participate in the settlement, officials said.
The suit was settled this week. The landlord did not have to admit to any wrongdoing.
