San Fernando Valley : State Cracks Down on Unlicensed Rental Listing Service

State regulators Wednesday ordered a Sherman Oaks home-finding service that has been the target of numerous consumer complaints to cease operating without a required state license.

In a pair of administrative orders, the Department of Real Estate charged Global Management Inc. and four alleged operators with failing to obtain a license to run the rental listing service in the 13700 block of Ventura Boulevard.

The orders direct Greg Schwartz, Vickie Lee Cardoza, John Rojas and Kip Lee Hobby “to desist and refrain from engaging in business. . . until you are in compliance” with the licensing requirements. None of the four could be reached for comment.

Since opening in August, Global has been the target of dozens of complaints to consumer agencies, including 30 to the Better Business Bureau of the Southland. In the complaints, tenants who paid $150 to obtain supposedly exclusive listings of rental units accused Global of lying about its services and refund policies.