Rent Stabilization Commission affirms hearing examiner in two appeals over services removed at 926 N. Spalding Ave.

The West Hollywood Rent Stabilization Commission on April 23 affirmed the hearing examiner's decisions in two related appeals concerning Unit 7 at 926 North Spalding Avenue, voting to adopt Resolutions RSC-26-706 and RSC-26-707 to uphold awards for rent reductions tied to removed services.

Commissioners heard staff and legal counsel summarize the record, then accepted oral arguments from the landlord, Sean Shayan, and tenant, Gregory Marcel, before deliberating. Legal counsel and staff told the commission the tenant applied for reductions based on the removal of an assigned parking space, closure of a common-area washer and dryer (staff recorded the closure date as 07/28/2025), loss of a storage unit and elimination of driveway access tied to ADU construction. Staff recommended affirming the hearing examiner, saying the record contained substantial evidence to support each finding.

Why it matters: The decisions preserve the hearing examiner's valuation of lost housing services and confirm the commission will look to the evidentiary record and valuation guidelines when weighing appeals. Commissioners emphasized that compliance determinations about current access (for example, whether in-unit washers actually make common-area laundry equivalent) are a separate process from reviewing a hearing examiner's factual findings.

During the hearing, landlord Sean Shayan argued many tenants in other units had in-unit laundry and that the storage cubby was small, unsecured and of little value. Shayan said the no-parking signs were installed to deter non-tenants and that tenants could still use the driveway to load and unload. "They can still walk down the driveway. They can unload and load," he said, defending the property changes.

Tenant Gregory Marcel disputed the landlord's account and the hearing record, saying the hearing contained no evidence that other units had in-unit laundry when the examiner ruled and that he had faced difficulties accessing services because of construction and communications from building management. Marcel also disputed the landlord's changing descriptions of the storage unit's size and said he had documentation showing frequent interruptions during earlier hearings. "I have time stamps of every single one of those," Marcel said, alleging interruptions limited his ability to present evidence.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about who had access to the locked common laundry room, whether keys were provided, whether the driveway remained usable for loading/unloading, and the basis for storage valuation. Legal counsel advised that alleged in-unit laundry for other tenants, if not in the record, would require a separate compliance determination and could not be added as new evidence in the appeal.

After deliberation, Commissioner Topchen moved to adopt Resolution RSC-26-706 (landlord appeal) and Commissioner Copeland seconded; roll call recorded affirmative votes from Commissioners Bass, Copeland, McCafferty, Topchen and Vice Chair Goldman. Later Commissioner Bass moved and the commission adopted Resolution RSC-26-707 (tenant-side appeal) on a similar unanimous vote of the commissioners present.

The commission noted that some issues raised at the hearing—notably whether individual units have functioning in-unit washers and dryers and current driveway signage—are more appropriately addressed via compliance determinations rather than appeal review. Staff and counsel encouraged parties to pursue compliance applications if they seek a contemporaneous inspection or enforcement determination.

Contact and next steps: The commission recorded that staff is available to answer questions about the decisions and implementation; parties were directed to the Rent Stabilization Division at (323) 848-6450 or rsd@weho.org, and to online appointment resources at weho.org.