Status: Open
Assigned To: Amoreno (Code Compliance)
Ticket ID: 66436d8a
I am writing today to bring attention to the home at 348 Villa Real Ct, Lathrop, CA
Owned by Lawrence Abbott, San Leandro, CA ph.510-512-3212
I recently drove from Montana to California to help my stepmother in cleaning out the house she has rented for around 17 years after she had major surgery. What I found out once I got there was disturbing. I knew there had been a fire in the home at one time and that some things had not yet been repaired, but I did not know that the house had been Red Tagged, and that the owner cut the red tag on the door and allowed them to move in.
My disabled father and stepmother had some sort of agreement with the owner that they, with the help of the owner, would assist with the repairs in exchange for a lower rent.
They have lived in this house with limited electricity. The kitchen has a working refrigerator, but there is no stove or oven due to the gas being shut off. The microwave does not work. There is not a working hot water heater in the house to supply the kitchen or master bathroom. The owner installed an on-demand water heater in the second bathroom, but it was not installed correctly. The only source of heat is the wood burning fireplace. The side of the chimney is currently half covered with a weather worn tarp.
A few years ago, they noticed that they had rats. The rats were coming in through the open areas that had not been closed off on the outside of the house due to the fire. They did not mention this to the owner at first, because they were afraid they would get evicted. As the problem got worse, they mentioned it to the owner, who responded “Get a cat”. It was when my stepmother mentioned that she was going to have someone come out for pest control and that she would send him the bill, that he then came in and put a metal bracket over one of the holes in the house to stop the rats from coming in. Finally, they were able to kill all the rats, but they had been in every room of the house.
In addition to the issues on the inside of the house, there is a very large tree that is growing into/pushing on the overhang of the entryway of the house. Mind you, this is the only way in or out of the house. The owner has said that he does not want to cut the tree down because it is beautiful. To keep the tree from falling on the house, he has taken a large tow strap and wrapped it around the leaning tree and anchored it to the sycamore tree that is also in the front yard. The backyard exit is inaccessible due to a camper that has a massive beehive inside.
Over the last 13 years their health has declined. My father has had many health issues including cognitive issues due to a TBI and my stepmother just had a 5lb cancerous tumor and kidney removed. They have been able to do work on the house and usually must wait for the owner to be ready for the next project.
I understand I am only hearing one side of this story, but this house is not habitable. The house was not habitable when they originally moved it. The last time I was there was in 2012 and there have been no improvements to the house.
Since my stepmother’s surgery in January, my father has been staying with friends from church, and she has been staying with her daughter in Daly City. I reached out to the owner on 3/16/25 asking if he could let me know a time that would work for him to talk about cleaning the house and making it more livable. He replied “will do” and I have never heard back from him. It was the following week that I drove to California and saw the state of the house. I will admit that they let the house go as far as cleaning due to their combined illnesses.
My father, due to his cognitive issues would like to move back into the house. I would like the city to consider condemning the property so this is not an option as the house is unsafe. Even the reduced rent of $400 is too much money to pay to live in this house.
I have pictures that I can provide along with this letter.
Updated By: Rdosanjh
Assigned To: Amoreno (Code Compliance)
Good morning Kelly,
Thank you for reaching out. I would like to speak with you directly to get some more information. If you could reach out to me directly we can discuss a plan on how to move forward. I can be reached at (209)647-6430.
Thank you
Ranjit Dosanjh
Community Services Supervisor
04/25/2025 - 7:07am
Public
Open
Updated By: Amoreno
Assigned To: Amoreno (Code Compliance)
Hello Kelly,
Thank you for reaching out and for bringing this to the City's attention. After reviewing your ticket I would like to get the input of the Community Services Supervisor. I would like to ask how they are getting their heat source? For a house to be deemed substandard there are 3 things that would be lacking: Heat, Water and Electricity. If given permission, we can schedule a visit to walk the inside of the property with personnel from the building department to determine if the house is in fact unsafe. We would need permission from the tenent or the home owner to do so. I am going to forward this ticket to the Community Services Supervisor for review and may contact you to request pictures. In the mean time if you have additional questions please call the Community Services Division at 209-647-6430.
Certain messages sent through this form may constitute a public record and be subject to disclosure under state law.
Communications sent via the Internet or through this Web page shall in no way be deemed to constitute legal notice to the City or any of its officers, agents, or employees, where notice to the City is required by any law, rule, regulation or contract.
Update Ticket/Add Comment
Unsafe House being rented in Lathrop
I am writing today to bring attention to the home at 348 Villa Real Ct, Lathrop, CA
Owned by Lawrence Abbott, San Leandro, CA ph.510-512-3212
I recently drove from Montana to California to help my stepmother in cleaning out the house she has rented for around 17 years after she had major surgery. What I found out once I got there was disturbing. I knew there had been a fire in the home at one time and that some things had not yet been repaired, but I did not know that the house had been Red Tagged, and that the owner cut the red tag on the door and allowed them to move in.
My disabled father and stepmother had some sort of agreement with the owner that they, with the help of the owner, would assist with the repairs in exchange for a lower rent.
They have lived in this house with limited electricity. The kitchen has a working refrigerator, but there is no stove or oven due to the gas being shut off. The microwave does not work. There is not a working hot water heater in the house to supply the kitchen or master bathroom. The owner installed an on-demand water heater in the second bathroom, but it was not installed correctly. The only source of heat is the wood burning fireplace. The side of the chimney is currently half covered with a weather worn tarp.
A few years ago, they noticed that they had rats. The rats were coming in through the open areas that had not been closed off on the outside of the house due to the fire. They did not mention this to the owner at first, because they were afraid they would get evicted. As the problem got worse, they mentioned it to the owner, who responded “Get a cat”. It was when my stepmother mentioned that she was going to have someone come out for pest control and that she would send him the bill, that he then came in and put a metal bracket over one of the holes in the house to stop the rats from coming in. Finally, they were able to kill all the rats, but they had been in every room of the house.
In addition to the issues on the inside of the house, there is a very large tree that is growing into/pushing on the overhang of the entryway of the house. Mind you, this is the only way in or out of the house. The owner has said that he does not want to cut the tree down because it is beautiful. To keep the tree from falling on the house, he has taken a large tow strap and wrapped it around the leaning tree and anchored it to the sycamore tree that is also in the front yard. The backyard exit is inaccessible due to a camper that has a massive beehive inside.
Over the last 13 years their health has declined. My father has had many health issues including cognitive issues due to a TBI and my stepmother just had a 5lb cancerous tumor and kidney removed. They have been able to do work on the house and usually must wait for the owner to be ready for the next project.
I understand I am only hearing one side of this story, but this house is not habitable. The house was not habitable when they originally moved it. The last time I was there was in 2012 and there have been no improvements to the house.
Since my stepmother’s surgery in January, my father has been staying with friends from church, and she has been staying with her daughter in Daly City. I reached out to the owner on 3/16/25 asking if he could let me know a time that would work for him to talk about cleaning the house and making it more livable. He replied “will do” and I have never heard back from him. It was the following week that I drove to California and saw the state of the house. I will admit that they let the house go as far as cleaning due to their combined illnesses.
My father, due to his cognitive issues would like to move back into the house. I would like the city to consider condemning the property so this is not an option as the house is unsafe. Even the reduced rent of $400 is too much money to pay to live in this house.
I have pictures that I can provide along with this letter.
Sincerely,
Kelly Yeager
Ticket History
Update Ticket/Add Comment
Good morning Kelly,
Thank you for reaching out. I would like to speak with you directly to get some more information. If you could reach out to me directly we can discuss a plan on how to move forward. I can be reached at (209)647-6430.
Thank you
Ranjit Dosanjh
Community Services Supervisor
Hello Kelly,
Thank you for reaching out and for bringing this to the City's attention. After reviewing your ticket I would like to get the input of the Community Services Supervisor. I would like to ask how they are getting their heat source? For a house to be deemed substandard there are 3 things that would be lacking: Heat, Water and Electricity. If given permission, we can schedule a visit to walk the inside of the property with personnel from the building department to determine if the house is in fact unsafe. We would need permission from the tenent or the home owner to do so. I am going to forward this ticket to the Community Services Supervisor for review and may contact you to request pictures. In the mean time if you have additional questions please call the Community Services Division at 209-647-6430.
Thank you,
Angelina Moreno
Lathrop Police Department
940 River Islands Parkway
Lathrop, Ca 95330
Update Ticket/Add Comment
Citizen request/question created.
Disclosures
Certain messages sent through this form may constitute a public record and be subject to disclosure under state law.
Communications sent via the Internet or through this Web page shall in no way be deemed to constitute legal notice to the City or any of its officers, agents, or employees, where notice to the City is required by any law, rule, regulation or contract.