An absent landlord was operating boarding homes at two properties in Fontana, filled with felons, mentally ill individuals, and vagrants – across the street from an elementary school.
For six years, the City received dozens of complaints from residents regarding the property. Repeated citations and abatement orders from Fontana Police Department and the City’s Code Enforcement Unit were issued for substandard conditions relating to fire and electrical hazards, but continuously ignored by the property owner.
In the City of Fontana V. Nicholas C. Choi case, Serviam by Wright LLP. was also successful in recovering the costs incurred by the City for the entirety of the case.
Code enforcement action on the two properties, located on the 16500 block of Baseline Avenue and 14400 block of Chesebro Court, began back in 2012.
The absentee landlord was operating two undeclared boarding homes for mentally unstable, violent, felons which hit an all-time low when one of the illegal tenants allegedly broke into a nearby home and attempted to rape a woman, after brutally stabbing her husband.
“The court-appointed receivers brought both properties into full compliance and in agreement with the owner. The City sold both properties to a responsible party who came in and seized all of the unlawful activities; which elevated the safety in the neighborhood and surrounding community.”
Rene Farjeat, Serviam by Wright LLP partner
Since the city successfully attained authority over the two properties in 2018, both homes have been sold after being beautified and completely rehabilitated, elevating the quality of life in the neighborhood and creating a safer environment for students attending elementary school across the street.
Read more here: Fontana Herald News
