Santa Monica Rent Control - Information and Frequently Asked Questions

Information by Subject

The Rent Control staff answers questions on a range of landlord-tenant issues. The following information sheets were developed to assist tenants and property owners with their most commonly asked questions.

Popular Topics

Community Resource Directory	Petition Process
Eviction	Registration Fees
How to Prepare for a Hearing	Relocation
Locks	Rent Control Terms & Definitions
Maintenance and Apartment Repairs	Security Deposits
Maintenace Seminar	Smoking in Residential Common Areas
Master-Metered Utility Costs	Surcharges
Measure RR	Temporary Rent Reductions
Mediation	Tenant Harassment
Mold	Workshops & Seminars
Owning Rental Property in Santa Monica

Community Resource Directory I Download

Links to useful organizations providing services to property owners and tenants.

Eviction I Download

Reasons that permit an owner to recover possession of a unit.

How to Prepare for a Hearing I Download

A list of commonly asked questions about Rent Control hearings and procedures.

Locks I Download

California state law requirements regarding locks on doors and windows.

Maintenance and Apartment Repairs I Download

Brief overview of mandatory apartment repairs. What to do if the owner fails to make them.

Maintenance Seminar I Video

Didn’t have the chance to attend one of our property-maintenance seminar? Not to worry…it was all caught on video! This in-depth video explains what kinds of maintenance owners must perform, what happens if the maintenance isn’t done, and how to deal with significant maintenance issues that may require tenants to be temporarily or permanently relocated. Don’t have time to watch the whole thing? Just go to the dropdown menu under the video and click on the subject that interests you most.

Master-Metered Utility Costs I Download

Overviews whether tenants may or may not be charged utility costs.

Measure RR - Eviction Protections Expanded I Download

Changes to Rent Control Law and the City Charter approved by voters in the November 2010 election.

Mediation

Free mediation services provided by the Rent Control Board to resolve disputes between tenants and property owners.

Mold

Links to useful publications related to mold prevention and detection, cleanup/remediation, as well as health concerns related to mold exposure.

Owning Rental Property in Santa Monica I Download

Highlights of the Santa Monica Rent Control Law for current and prospective residential property owners.

Petition Process

What is a petition? When are they filed and how? Here are some quick answers.

Registration Fees

Property owners are required to pay an annual registration fee for every unit subject to the Santa Monica Rent Control law.

Relocation - Temporary or Permanent I Download (Temporary) I Download (Permanent)

Relocation assistance for tenants who are temporarily or permanently displaced from their homes.

Rent Control Terms & Definitions

A list of commonly used rent control-related terms and acronyms.

Security Deposits I Download

How much can a landlord ask for when you move in, deduct when you move out, and most things in between.

Smoking in Residential Common Areas I Download

Prohibition on smoking in common areas of multi-unit residential buildings.

Surcharges

Property owners may include additional amounts in a tenant's monthly rent in addition to the Maximum Allowable Rent (MAR) and the rent control registration fee. These amounts include certain property tax assessments.

Temporary Rent Reductions I Download