Valleywide : Scams Target Tenants Seeking Legal Aid

Authorities are warning low-income tenants facing eviction to be wary of bogus tenants’ rights organizations that charge clients inflated fees but do little or nothing to help them.

“There are dozens of agencies and individuals operating illegally and taking advantage of low-income people,” said Los Angeles Municipal Judge Alban I. Niles.

The scam artists--who often target Latinos--lie about their legal qualifications, and do a poor job preparing court documents, Niles said.

They often promise to obtain for their clients free rent for six months, but instead file bankruptcy proceedings on their behalf.

Under the state’s Business and Professions Code, only lawyers or unlawful detainer assistants are permitted to give advice or fill out forms, Niles said.

Unlawful detainer assistants must be registered and bonded, he said, and are required to put their registration number and county of registration on documents.

The Los Angeles County Bar Assn. has launched a low-cost tenants’ defense clinic called the Unlawful Detainer Assistance Project. It is located in Room 526 of the Los Angeles County Courthouse at 100 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. For more information, call (213) 613-2760.

The organization charges $45 for assistance in preparing court documents, and $20 for legal consultation.

Tenants don’t have to be low-income to qualify for assistance. Spanish-speaking counselors are available.

Tenants with landlord problems in the San Fernando Valley area can call Bet Tzedek, a legal aid organization, at (818) 769-0136.

They also can get assistance from the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles at (213) 387-9038, the Los Angeles city attorney’s office at (213) 485-4515, or the county’s Consumer Affairs Hotline at (213) 974-1452.