Landlord Fined for Slum Conditions

A North Hollywood landlord was fined $12,768 for operating three Westlake apartment buildings under slum conditions and given until April 23 to make repairs, a judge ruled Wednesday.

George Panoussis, 50, pleaded no contest to criminal slum violations in Los Angeles Superior Court for 10 code violations at 1442, 1450 and 1458 S. Alvarado Terrace, the district attorney’s office said.

The violations, discovered earlier this year by an interagency Slum Housing Task Force, included exposed electrical wiring, missing smoke detectors, broken windows, damaged walls and cockroach infestation.

Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta placed Panoussis on three years summary probation. He could be punished further if he misses the April deadline.

The three buildings, which are currently occupied, are not in bad enough shape to warrant moving tenants out, said Deputy City Atty. Lawrence Punter.