Tuesday, Jan 18 2011 5:37PM
Neglecting garbage pick-up is one of the many offenses that led to a lawsuit by tenants.
Tenants of a Santa Maria landlord are now receiving their parts of a $1 million settlement for living in unsafe conditions, reported KSBY News.
According to the news site, the 62 tenants represented by California Rural Legal Assistance claim that two of landlord Dario Pini's properties had extensive safety and health violations such as exposed wires, plumbing issues and neglected garbage pick-up.
"I'm really glad that most of the community can see how much went on and what kind of living conditions there were," an RV tenant on one of Pini's holdings told the news site. The tenant, who wished to remain anonymous, said the rented trailers were filthy, and some even leaked sewage.
Pini owns an RV park and motel in town. Although the properties are still in need of maintenance, some residents have already started receiving payments from the settlement ranging from $10,000 to almost $110,000. Permits to make improvements to the properties have also been approved.
Substandard housing is a problem across many parts of the Golden State. A report from the state's Department of Housing and Community Development found that because of the recession, many families were doubling up or staying in substandard conditions.