Brief

The Los Angeles Housing Department submitted a matter regarding 935 East Venezia Avenue (APN 4241-030-006) involving the REAP program on May 18, 2026. The file was referred to Council the following day and remains open. No substantive action has been taken to date. The matter is scheduled to expire on May 18, 2028, unless Council acts sooner.

Full summary

The Los Angeles Housing Department is asking the City Council to remove 935 East Venezia Avenue, a two-unit rental property owned by Smadar Rees, from the Rent Escrow Account Program (REAP) and to end the rent reductions that were imposed on its tenants. REAP is a city enforcement tool under which tenants pay reduced rent into an escrow account rather than to the landlord when a property has serious unresolved code violations. The property was placed into REAP in November 2024 after LAHD's Code Enforcement Division cited nine violations covering weatherproofing, maintenance, plumbing and gas systems, heating and ventilation, and illegal construction. All nine violations have since been corrected, and the property owner has also cleared any outstanding utility charges with the Department of Water and Power. With the violations resolved, LAHD is recommending that the Council adopt a resolution formally closing the program. If approved, the resolution would terminate the rent reductions, with rents restored to their original levels 30 days after tenants receive written notice. The escrow funds on deposit would be disbursed in a set order: first to cover LAHD administrative fees and penalties, then any outstanding code enforcement fees, then unpaid rent registration fees if the property falls under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, with any remaining balance returned to the landlord. LAHD would also file a certificate with the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office to remove the REAP notation from the property's title. As a condition of removal, the property owner must prepay for two additional annual inspections beyond those already covered under the Systematic Code Enforcement Program fee, and LAHD will conduct an expedited follow-up inspection of the property. The matter was submitted to Council on May 18, 2026, and is scheduled for the Council agenda on May 27, 2026. It is in the jurisdiction of Council District 11, represented by Councilmember Traci Park. As of the latest activity on May 19, no Council vote has yet been recorded.

Activity (2)

• 2026-05-19 Los Angeles Housing Department document(s) referred to Council.
• 2026-05-18 Document submitted by Los Angeles Housing Department, dated May 18, 2026.

Documents (1)

• 2026-05-18 Report from Los Angeles Housing Department · report