News Summary
Tenants at an apartment complex in downtown Los Angeles are calling for urgent improvements as they face dangerous and severely deteriorating living conditions. Living under the busy freeway exchange, residents report missing ceilings, plumbing issues, and mold. Landlord Nela Petrusan faces legal challenges stemming from tenant complaints, including numerous building code violations. With the situation growing dire, tenants have been advocating for better living conditions for over two years, highlighting their ongoing struggle against a landlord accused of harassment and neglect.
Los Angeles – Tenants living in an apartment complex on South Wright Street in downtown Los Angeles are demanding change amid severely deteriorating living conditions that they describe as dangerous and “unlivable.” Reports indicate that many individuals have faced these issues for over two years, with various complaints highlighting the extent of the problems within the building.
The apartment complex is situated under the busy 10 and 110 freeway exchange. Tenants have shown reports of extensive disrepair, including missing ceilings, limited natural light, possible mold, holes in the walls, and significant plumbing issues. While it remains unclear how many of the 43 units are currently occupied, tenants assert that numerous residents face similar challenging living conditions.
The landlord, Nela Petrusan, has faced significant scrutiny and legal challenges amid these ongoing complaints. Los Angeles city housing inspectors attempted to investigate the property following numerous tenant reports but were allegedly turned away by Petrusan. She claimed that the city failed to provide her with a proper 30-day notice required for such inspections.
According to tenant testimonies, life in the building has felt unbearable. Reports indicate that rent for most of the units ranges between $500 and $800 per month, with some tenants paying less due to the disrepair of their apartments. Some residents express profound fear over relocating due to the financial burdens associated with moving, leading them to advocate for improvements within their current home.
The situation escalated when the LA Housing Department received over one hundred complaints concerning the property. While numerous complaints have been marked as resolved, many have led to legal actions against the landlord. The LA City Attorney’s Office confirmed an ongoing case involving Petrusan, highlighting a total of 43 counts of tenant harassment, 19 counts of building code violations, 3 counts of battery, and 2 counts of unlawful demand for rent. These allegations emerged from incidents reported between July 2024 and June 26, 2025.
Petrusan is currently facing a pending criminal case as a result of 16 alleged building code violations stemming from an inspection conducted in May 2024. Furthermore, both she and the tenants have accused one another of acts of violence and intimidation, with respective charges asserting various degrees of conflict between the parties involved.
Members of the LA Tenants’ Association have reported that tenants have been engaged in a prolonged struggle, spanning more than two years, aimed at removing the property from Petrusan’s management in hopes of securing improved living conditions. Activists express concern that without significant intervention, tenants will continue to suffer in these hazardous environments.
Petrusan is scheduled to attend a court hearing on Thursday to address a number of the charges filed against her. Additionally, she has a hearing set for October 30 concerning the alleged building code violations. The outcome of these proceedings is awaited by both the tenants and city officials who are closely monitoring the situation for further developments.
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Additional Resources
- NBC Los Angeles
- Wikipedia: Tenant rights
- LAist
- Google Search: Los Angeles housing conditions
- Daily Journal
- Google Scholar: Housing disputes in Los Angeles
- LA Times
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Housing in Los Angeles
- ABC 7
- Google News: LA housing problems
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LOS ANGELES STAFF WRITER The LOS ANGELES STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELosAngeles.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and beyond, specializing in "news you can use" with coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates, while delivering top reporting on high-value events like the Academy Awards, LA Auto Show, and Los Angeles Marathon, extending coverage to key organizations such as the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, plus leading businesses in entertainment and technology like Warner Bros. and SpaceX, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREAnaheim.com , HERECostaMesa.com , HEREHuntingtonBeach.com , and HERESantaAna.com , providing comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape. HERE Anaheim HERE Beverly Hills HERE Coronado HERE Costa Mesa HERE Hollywood HERE Huntington Beach HERE Long Beach HERE Los Angeles HERE Mission Viejo HERE San Diego HERE Santa Ana
