Housing Authority OKs Stricter Leases

The Housing Authority of the city of Los Angeles has approved an overhaul of tenant leases for its 21 housing developments, with an emphasis on rules against drugs, violence and poor housekeeping.

Although the policy was previously enforced, the new leases, approved Friday, specifically will include the federal government’s “one strike” standard, which allows eviction for one drug violation or act of violence by any household member.

Some city housing project residents had expressed fears that an entire family might be made homeless as a result of criminal behavior by one relative or guest. But Housing Authority Executive Director Donald Smith insisted that any one-strike incident would be handled case by case, with opportunities for appeal.

The new leases also include prohibitions against loud music late at night, throwing trash out of windows and hanging laundry from balconies. “We are moving into a responsibility mode,” Smith said.

The leases, which will be phased in over the next year, represent the first comprehensive revisions since 1977. Officials said the documents will give the agency more clout in dealing with a rule-breaking tenant but that they don’t expect any significant rise in the number of evictions.

The agency originally had proposed strict rules that allowed fines and evictions for late rent payments. However, the authority backed away from the idea after residents protested they would be punished for late arrivals of the Social Security and welfare checks they need to pay their rents. Instead, delinquent rents will be handled on an individual basis.