HOW TO REQUEST REPAIRS
You have the right to a safe, healthy, and habitable home.
Your landlord is legally obligated to make essential repairs, including fixing water leaks from the roof, doors, windows, or walls, repairing plumbing, gas, heating, and electrical problems, and keeping the grounds outside your unit clean, safe, and free of pests such as mice and roaches.
If your landlord is refusing to make essential repairs, you can use our LA Tenant Action Center tool to send a certified copy of the Notice to Repair letter to your landlord for free.
Remember to document ALL essential repairs by keeping a detailed list, along with pictures and video footage, of the problems.
If You Live in the City of Los Angeles
If your landlord or on-site property manager does not respond in writing within seven (7) days to your Notice to Repair letter, it’s time to file a complaint with the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department (HCID).
You can file your complaint online, or by calling (866) 557-7368, or by making an appointment to visit your nearest HCID office.
If your issues are still not addressed, your unit may qualify for the Rent Escrow Account Program (REAP). This enforcement program is managed by the City of Los Angeles. It forces property owners to bring their property into compliance with health and building codes by instituting rent reductions for tenants, REAP administrative fees, and a cloud on the property title until repairs are made. For more information on the REAP program, click here.
If You Live in Unincorporated Los Angeles County
If your landlord or on-site property manager does not respond in writing within seven (7) days to your Notice to Repair letter, you should file a complaint with the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health or the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.
The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health handles code violations related to environmental conditions, such as inadequate sanitation, pest infestations, and leaky roofs.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works handles code violations related to construction and zoning, such as un-permitted additions or changing a building’s use without getting the right approvals.
Beginning on October 23, 2024, rental properties in unincorporated Los Angeles county will be subject to routine, proactive inspections once every four years through the Rental Housing Habitability Program.
- Inspection notices will be mailed to property owners 30 days before inspections are scheduled.
- Landlords must publicly post inspection notices so tenants are aware of upcoming inspection dates.
- Landlords must provide written notice that the L.A. County inspector will be entering your unit within 24 hours of the scheduled inspection date.
- Inspection program staff will also respond to tenant complaints, so you do not have to wait until the designated inspection date to report an issue.
