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County of Los Angeles |
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10 Common Homeowner Complaints
1. Real Estate Fraud
“Someone forged my signature on a Grant Deed. The document says my property now belongs to someone I don’t even know.”
Contact us for help. We can investigate the case. Failure to act can result in the loss of your home.
2. Unlicensed Contractors
“I hired a guy who said he was licensed to make repairs to my kitchen. He started the work but never finished. I found out he isn’t licensed and that he recorded a mechanic’s lien against my house.”
Never hire an unlicensed contractor. Call us for help.
3. Foreclosure Consultants
“When I got behind on my house payments, I started getting mail from people saying they could save my home. I signed a contract with a guy who promised to make up the back payments and help me get a new loan. He didn’t do any of that. Instead, he sold my house to somebody else and now I’m being evicted.”
If you’re behind on payments, call us for help. (See our brochure, Foreclosure.)
4. High Interest Loans
“I thought I was getting a good deal on a refinance. Turns out, the interest rate is way too high and they charged me all kinds of junk fees.”
We can review your loan documents. Shop around for the best rates and fees before getting a new loan.
5. Adjustable and Fixed-Rate Loans
“The loan representative said I was getting a fixed-rate, 30-year loan. Six months later, my interest rate jumped more than 3%.”
Call us for help. We can review your loan documents before you sign.
6. Account and Billing Errors
“My mortgage company did not credit my account for the mortgage payments I’ve made.”
Send a letter to your mortgage company requesting a payment history. Be sure to include your account number in the letter. Contact us for help or more information.
7. Illegal Rooms
“I just moved into the house I bought and the city tells me that some of the rooms were added without building permits.”
You may be required to make changes. Be sure to check for building permits before you buy a home. See your local Building and Safety office for help.
8. Repairs and Escrow
“Before I bought my house, the seller promised to make repairs. My agent said it was OK to sign and close escrow, even though the repairs were not done. It’s been 3 months and the seller still hasn’t made any repairs.”
Make sure repairs are completed before you close escrow. (See our brochure, Escrow.)
9. Property Taxes Not Paid
“My mortgage company was supposed to pay my property taxes but didn’t. Now I owe past taxes and penalties.”
Call your mortgage company for an explanation. If they don’t take care of the problem, call us for help.
10. Vacant Land Purchase
“I bought some vacant land in the desert to build a house on. The seller said there was water, sewers, electricity and phone service. Turns out, none of those are available.”
Check with the local Building and Safety Department before you buy vacant land. Call us for help.
Contact us for more information or speak with one of our counselors at (800) 973-3370. If you live outside of Southern California, call us at (213) 974-1450.
For more information:
County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs
B-96 Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 W. Temple Street *
Los Angeles, CA 90012-2706
Telephone (800) 593-8222 (within LA County)
web site: dca.lacounty.gov