The Experience of a Property Manager's Family in Los Angeles

Title: The Experience of a Property Manager's Family in Los Angeles

By: Diana Ruzova
Illustrations by: Yasmine Nasser Diaz
Published: May 15, 2024, 3 AM PT

Diana Ruzova provides an insightful glance into her family's life as property managers in Los Angeles, sharing a journey that's a testament to the immigrant experience and the precarious nature of renting in the city.

From Minsk to Los Angeles, Ruzova's family settled in a series of temporary homes, reflecting their immigrant status. Their first property manager job was at a 30-unit apartment building between Beverly Hills and Pico-Robertson, a position obtained through connections rather than language proficiency.

Living at the job site, Ruzova's childhood was marked by adapting to the new environment. She describes sneaking into an elementary schoolyard she couldn't attend due to district restrictions and embracing temporary joys despite the instability. Her parents balanced their roles: her mother as a bookkeeper and her father managing the building while doing maintenance tasks.

The family later moved to Westwood upon securing a property management job for a 50-unit building. Here, an elderly Germanic-Jewish couple hired them, possibly seeing a reflection of their immigrant past.

Ruzova extends this personal narrative to the broader context of Los Angeles, detailing the city's historic allure as a destination for transplants and immigrants. She references the commodification and rising living costs, citing a 2021 report where 63% of LA households were renter-occupied. Rent has more than doubled in the past decade, with 57% of LA County residents spending a third or more of their income on housing.

Ruzova's story highlights the impermanence and challenges faced by many immigrant families. Despite the transitory lifestyle, her family continued to navigate the complexities of renting and the pursuit of stability in Los Angeles. This narrative underscores the broader issues of gentrification, housing shortages, and the sense of impermanence in a city always on the brink of transformation.