Roseville Woman Says Landlord Kicking Her Out After She Complained About Fire Hazard
ROSEVILLE (CBS13) — A Roseville woman says her landlord terminated her lease shortly after she complained to the fire department about a potential fire hazard.
The 77-year-old says she was given 30 days to find a new place to live.
Lori Martinson says she wasn't given a reason why she has to move, but she says her troubles with her landlord started when her smoke alarm began malfunctioning.
Now, she only has two and a half weeks to find a new place to live.
"I'm almost frightened right now," she said. "I have to put everything in storage."
She says in January, she complained to maintenance at Cirby Woods Apartments that her smoke alarm was defective and sounding its alarm without smoke. The apartment replaced the batteries, but days later, it went off at 5 a.m.
She called the fire department and says emergency crews didn't find smoke, but they did find malfunctioning detectors throughout the entire apartment complex.
"He said they're all outdated," she said.
She says the apartment maintenance guy then confronted her.
"He came over to me and said do not call the fire department again. I said excuse me?" she said.
The next day, she got a 30-day notice that she must leave.
CBS13 visited the maintenance guy, Tom Bussell, a visit. He happens to be the son of the property manager.
REPORTER: Well, she said there was a problem with all the smoke detectors throughout the entire complex, and the fire department told you guys you've got to change them, you have no other choice.
BUSSELL: Yeah, you see, this whole place everything needs to be upgraded.
But why is Martinson's month-to-month lease being terminated? Bussell didn't give a reason why.
"The issue between her and the office. Is nothing I can do with," he said.
According to the California Department of Consumer Affairs, generally a landlord can end a month-to-month lease without explaining why. A written 30- or 60-day notice must be provided, like the one given to Martinson.
Martinson says she's never been late on rent and doesn't understand what's happened. But even if her landlord has a change of heart, she's afraid to stay.
"Because I don't know what they could do next. Are they going to keep looking for any little thing so they can do it again or what?" she said.
Martinson's property manager declined to elaborate on her situation.
