NEWPORT BEACH : Eviction Notices Sent in Rent Dispute

Though the 268 residents of Bayside Village Mobile Home Park succeeded in purchasing the land beneath their coaches last month, their troubles with ballooning rents have not ended.

DeAnza Assets Corp. of Beverly Hills, which holds the lease on the land for another 19 years, issued eviction notices Saturday to several dozen residents who decided to ignore a rent increase that went into effect Jan. 1 and instead paid this month’s rents at last month’s rates.

About 50 of the residents received about a 40% rent increase, while the overall rental rate went up about 20% in the park, said Barry McCabe, president of DeAnza. This increase went into effect just days after the residents closed a deal with the Irvine Co. to purchase their park and a nearby marina for $11 million.

Even though residents have purchased the seniors-only park, they must still pay rent to DeAnza because the company owns a lease on the property. Therefore, people living there have to both finance the land deal while also paying rent.

The residents, whose rents currently range from $600 to $1,600, met with DeAnza on Saturday but were unable to persuade their landlord to cancel the increase.

McCabe has said his company will grant subsidies for residents who cannot afford the increase but will evict those who fail to ask for help or to pay the entire rent before the end of this week.