Profile – Anna Ly

Licensing & Authority

Questions: Did Anna Ly hold an active California real‑estate salesperson or broker license at the time of listing? Does public record indicate she was affiliated with a brokerage or held a proper agency relationship? Was she authorized to sign or send lease renewals and move‑out demands?

Suggested action: verify license status via the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) public database using licence number, name, or employer. Review any disciplinary history or assumptions of agency.

Key Alleged Acts

• Listed property as pet‑friendly at Zillow online and allowed two 100 lb dogs after initial acceptance; later increased fee by $1,000 for pets. Tenant disclosed pets in advance.
• Sent lease renewal via DocuSign (02/22/2024) but according to tenant wife did not receive copy; denies working for owner in email (“I no longer work for Phat Tran, call him directly”).
• Directed or accepted payments outside original contract terms, including wires to owner’s private account of $5,000 (04/19/2024) and $5,350 (06/28/2024) referencing “one of 3 contracts” and July payment. Evidence sample images shown.
• After tenant vacated, participated in move‑out clearance report email dated 08/22/2024 from owner’s dental office address; billed tenant $20,980 invoice for carpet replacement, attorney fees, lock change etc.
• Sent notice of move out, billing, and allegedly claimed non‑affiliation while acting as agent. No record tenant receives signed new contract with all parties.

Legal Implications

Some of the legal frameworks relevant to these facts include:

• 18 U.S.C. § 1343 – Wire fraud: “[W]hoever … having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud … transmits … by means of wire … any writings, signs, signals … for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice… ” :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
• Bus. & Prof. Code § 17500 – False or misleading advertising (listing amenities “in‑unit laundry”, “ocean view” when absent).
• Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.5 – Retaliatory eviction: where landlord or agent serves an eviction notice after tenant complains of habitability defects.

These statutes indicate potential civil or criminal claims. One must still prove intent, causation, reliance and damages. Wire fraud requires a scheme to obtain money or property by deceptive communications. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Evidence Available

These images represent digital evidence. Please keep originals in a secure evidence folder with metadata. Filenames above are placeholders — rename to match your catalog.

Next Steps / Investigative Questions

 

✅ Legal protections you likely have

1. The landlord must maintain the property in habitable condition. California’s “implied warranty of habitability” means a rental unit must be free from serious defects (like untreated leaks, mold growth from structural issues) that affect health or safety. Nolo+2Tenant Law Group+2

2. Visible mold caused by structural issues (leaks, broken windows) may render the unit sub-standard under the California Housing Code. CDPH

3. For security deposit / damage charge issues: The landlord can only charge a tenant for damage beyond normal wear and tear and must provide an itemized statement of deductions and any receipts/invoices for work done. Self-Help Guide to the California Courts+2California DOJ Attorney General+2

4. The landlord must offer the tenant a pre-move-out inspection (walk-through) so the tenant has an opportunity to remedy issues before move-out. Raintree Property Management+1

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⚠️ Why your scenario raises red flags

• You say the landlord promised a walkthrough after remodel but then failed to do it. If you did not get the inspection offer, the landlord may have deprived you of your right to cure minor damage and avoid deductions.

• You discovered mold, leak, broken window that were not fixed by the landlord. That suggests the landlord may have breached habitability.

• The landlord allegedly kicked you out in 3 days and then retroactively billed you for upgrades (Airbnb remote entry) you did not agree to. If the upgrade was to benefit the landlord (not required by lease) you may not be legally liable to pay for it.

• If the landlord retaliated (e.g., kicking you out because you complained about condition) that may violate protections against retaliatory eviction under California law. Wikipedia

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❓ Key questions to ask / issues to verify

• Did you provide the landlord written notice (or otherwise documented) the mold/leak/broken window condition?

• Did the landlord offer the pre-move-out inspection within the required timeframe?

• Was the upgrade (remote entry for Airbnb) in your lease or agreed to by you? Or was it unilaterally imposed?

• Were the conditions (mold, leak, broken window) caused by landlord negligence (roof leak, broken window not addressed)?

• Were you given the itemized statement + receipts for any deductions or retroactive billing?

• Did you vacate because of the landlord’s action (constructive eviction) vs. voluntary move?

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🎯 Short answer

Yes — you may have legal grounds to challenge the billing and eviction in Orange County, CA. The landlord appears to have failed to preserve habitable conditions, failed to provide a proper walk-through, and attempted to bill you for upgrades you did not authorize. All of these raise potential violations.

I recommend you gather all documentation (emails, text messages, lease, photos of mold/leak/window, notices, billing) and consult a tenant-rights attorney or go to the local housing code enforcement in Orange County for inspection.

 

• Was Anna Ly paid for listing, leasing or move‑out management? If so, how and from whom? Check payment records.
• Was she acting as agent for owner at all relevant times? Does she appear on lease or brokerage records? Who authorized her communication?
• Did she send the renewal lease and did the tenant receive it? Why does the tenant claim they did not receive the DocuSign envelope?
• Was the pet‑fee change documented in the lease or a valid addendum? Did the tenant sign it? Was it disclosed at time of listing?
• Did funds wired by tenant correspond to amounts in contract? Why does memo say “one of 3 contracts”? Where is the other contract documentation?
• Was the post‑vacation invoice of $20,980 (carpet, attorney fees) consistent with actual condition or inflated? Does it reflect genuine damage or a profit motive (Airbnb remodel)?
• Has a DRE or other regulatory complaint been filed and what is its status? (Refer to DRE letter assigned to Tom Nguyen dated June 12 2024.)