Landlord in Trouble for Converting 3 Apartments Into 44 Units

2012-06-28 1

Landlord in Trouble for Converting 3 Apartments Into 44 Units - as part of the news series by GeoBeats.

While we all do modifications in our homes to maximize space, one homeowner went too far.

A landlord in Los Angeles is facing charges of illegal building modifications on his properties. John Callaghan stands accused of multiple misdemeanor counts, including turning a triplex into 44 separate rooms. Another property of his was a single-family house, which he converted into 14 separate apartments, including illegal alterations like dangerously faulty electrical installations, and not enough smoke detectors. The City Attorney’s office filed the lengthy complaint, and if he’s found guilty, Callaghan could be forced to pay a heavy fine and serve time in jail.

While Callaghan is facing legal repercussions for the treatment of his tenants and building without a permit, a landlord in Florida is in the hospital after one of his tenants shot him in the chest over an argument about money. The man accused of shooting his landlord is claiming that the shooting was accidental, but he has been charged with being in possession of a firearm as a felon and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.