Public Awareness/Education

The Rent Control Agency enforces the rent control ordinance for the city of Santa Monica which regulates the amount of rent paid and collected in the city to protect tenants from excessive rent increases and to allow landlords a reasonable return on their investment. Services include rent control enforcement and public awareness/education about housing issues. Services are restricted to residents of Santa Monica.

The agency provides information for the public through the Rent Control Information Line and the written Rent Control Ordinance. Staff accept and investigate complaints, register rental units, hear appeals for reasonable rent increases and educate the community about the ordinance. Complaints may relate to issues such as illegal rent increases, non-registration for rental property, a reduction in the level of service without a reduction in rent, nonpayment of relocation assistance, and notice to quit based on false and deceptive grounds.

The Housing and Redevelopment Division is a separate function from Rent Control, that works with non-profit developers to develop affordable housing and works with private property owners to provide rental assistance for qualifying households under Federal Section 8 guidelines.

The agency collects and maintains yearly registration fees for each rental unit in the city and assesses fines for late payments.