July 11, 2018 -- A Santa Monica landlord and the City's Rent Control Board are waging a heated battle over a vacant five-unit apartment building withdrawn from the rental market two and a half years ago.

Maged Guirguis, who owns the building at 1128 23rd Street, evicted the three existing tenants in December 2015 under the 1986 Ellis Act, which allows landlords to get out of the rental business.

Under a 2003 amendment to the law, owners cannot receive a market rate increase for five years after the property was withdrawn.

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