The Pacific Palisades house where Matthew Perry died survived the fires in Los Angeles.
The new owner of the property, Anita Verma-Lallian, confirmed that the fires did not destroy the deceased. Friends the actor’s former home in an Instagram post shared on Friday, January 10.
“We want to express our deepest gratitude to the brave firefighters, our amazing neighbors and the entire Palisades community for their help, strength and support during this heartbreaking time,” Verma-Lallian wrote in part.
A representative for Verma-Lallian confirmed to PEOPLE that the realtor who sold her the house, Brooke Elliott Laurinkus, helped monitor the house and protect it from any fires amid the natural disaster. After thanking Laurinkus for “keeping us informed of everything that’s going on,” Verma-Lallian said Laurinkus “will also be helping anyone who needs a temporary home during this time.”
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Verma-Lallian asked followers to consider donating to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.
“Our thoughts remain with all those affected by this tragedy and we hope that together we can heal, protect and restore what has been lost,” she wrote. “The Palisades will always have a special place in our hearts.”
The film producer and real estate developer bought the property in an off-market deal a year after Perry’s sudden death.
She announced the purchase and her plans to use the house as a vacation home in an Instagram post on Oct. 31, 2024. In the caption, she promised to respect the actor’s “joy” as a new homeowner.
“We decided to honor the positive aspects of the previous owner’s life, his immense talent and all the joy he brought to so many people,” she wrote. “The decision to buy the house had nothing to do with the previous owner, just our love for the home.”
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She continued: “As a real estate developer myself, I believe that every property has a history that we may or may not know about, and that every home carries the energy that the current owner brings to it. I am Hindu and it is customary to do a blessing and prayer whenever you buy a new home. We were so lucky that our Panditji from Arizona came to the house to do the blessing.”
Verma-Lallian also promised not to get rid of the home’s unique details.
“We plan to keep some design elements. The Batman logo in the pool is definitely staying. It’s a piece of heaven that’s filled with light and the perfect vacation home for us. I can’t wait to make new memories in it.”
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Perry purchased the 3,500-square-foot property in 2020, according to The New York Times.
A source previously told PEOPLE exclusively that the late actor had just renovated the house and “was incredibly happy” there before his death. He called his home “paradise,” the source added.
Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the LA fires.
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