San Franicisco judge orders slumlords to clean up building

By Brent Begin, Bay City News Service

August 10, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - The owners of a Tenderloin apartment building could face fines of more than $100,000 and possibly jail time if their tenants don't see a swift improvement in living conditions, a San Francisco Superior Court judge ordered yesterday.

Judge Paul Alvarado issued a temporary restraining order against Chiu Ki Luk and Teresa K. Luk, the owners of a nine-unit apartment building at 555 Hyde St., which could be deemed a public nuisance if a lawsuit prevails.

Complaints of defective locks, rodent infestation, broken fire escapes, inadequate lighting, a broken elevator, unsafe stairways, mold and blatant criminal activity in the building's common areas have all been ignored by the landlords, according to the lawsuit filed by City Attorney Dennis Herrera.

"These tenants have been forced to deal with lawlessness and filth that is often far worse in their own hallways than what they would encounter in the streets," Herrera said in a statement.

During their investigation, city inspectors found feces, discarded hypodermic needles and used condoms in the hallways.

The city attorney's office has worked with the Department of Building Inspection and the Department of Public Health for more than a year on issues with the property, citing the owners and sending orders of abatement.

But those orders have gone largely unnoticed by the owners, according to Herrera, who hopes the judge's action will catch their attention.

"This is an egregious example of neglect by defiant landlords who refuse to obey laws intended to protect the health and safety of residents and neighbors," Herrera said.

"These tenants are entitled to habitable conditions for the rent they pay, and we're taking a very aggressive stand to ensure they are protected."

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