Rental Property Owners Face Problems Too

* The image of apartment owners created in your story “Chick Seeks to Cap Rent Hikes for Quake Repair” (Nov. 8), is a skewed one when it comes to defining the majority of property owners who had earthquake damage and afterward struggled, along with many others, to survive.

The majority of San Fernando Valley rental property owners have barely been able to keep their heads above water through the last several years, because of our suffering economy and high vacancy rates. They are not alone, but your story makes them out, as a group, to be greedy earthquake opportunists, which the majority are not. The earthquake, for many apartment owners, was the beginning of the end in their ability to survive economically. Profit margins were slim indeed. Many of these owners are senior citizens who counted on the income from their property to supplement Social Security in their retirement years.

For some owners, insurance and/or government assistance did not begin to cover quake damages. The “pass-through” ordinance that was drafted by owners and tenant organizations with the help of the Los Angeles Housing Department and City Council staff is the only way they can recoup some of their out-of-pocket expenses. Many of the affected buildings provided low-cost housing, and it was felt that this ordinance was necessary to protect that housing stock.

For more than 30 years, the Apartment Assn. of San Fernando Valley / Ventura County has worked with responsible landlords to improve rental housing opportunities. The existing earthquake reimbursement law is a good one. Work with us to find a responsible solution for the few instances that may arise that need special care.

MARY ELLEN HUGHES

Van Nuys

Hughes is the executive director of the San Fernando Valley/Ventura County Apartment Assn.