Housing / Rent Control
628 - Maintenance of Rental Property
A tenant who believes his or her rental unit needs repairs should notify the landlord. It's best to make notification in writing, keeping a copy of the signed and dated letter after giving the original to the landlord or manager. If the landlord does not make the requested repairs, tenants have several remedies depending on the seriousness of the problem. California law requires landlords to maintain their units in habitable or livable condition. The property must also comply with building and housing codes that protect a tenant's health and safety.
Under the Santa Monica Rent Control Law, a tenant may file a rent decrease petition if the landlord does not make repairs or restore housing services within 30 days after receiving written notice from the tenant. The purpose of the decrease process is to encourage landlords to make necessary repairs. Many of the issues raised in decrease petitions are resolved through mediation conducted by an
agency staff member. Any unresolved issues are forwarded to the Rent Control Hearings Department for a hearing that may result in monthly rent reductions until the necessary repairs are made.
In addition to filing a decrease petition, a tenant who believes his or her unit or building is unsafe or unhealthy may call one of the following agencies and ask them to investigate the problem:
For more detailed information, please contact the Rent Control Board at (310) 458-8751 and ask for the information sheet, Maintenance of Rental Property. You can find this information on our website, as well, at
smgov.net/rentcontrol.
|
