EXTERIOR STRIPPED: Miguel Merino stands near a fire escape on the building. Housing advocates say some landlords are trying to push out tenants who have benefited from rent control. (Richard Hartog / LAT)
UNHAPPY TENANT: Light streams through walls in Maxima Leivas bathroom. She holds a bucket used to catch water from the sink because the drain pipe was removed. I want to fix everything nice, says landlord Joon Lee. But, he said, tenants want to live for free. (Richard Hartog / LAT)
DRAFTY: Maxima Leiva looks out to the alley from a hole in the wall in her shower. Housing advocates say some landlords are trying to push out tenants who have benefited from rent control (Richard Hartog / LAT)
