Rental need fixing? We can help.
The goal of the Rental Housing Code program is to help renters and owners communicate with each other so they can resolve their issues without further City involvement or legal action.
How to resolve your issue
To resolve an issue with your property owner or manager related to structural integrity, heating, plumbing, appliances, weatherproofing, security, electrical, rat prevention, smoke detection, or carbon monoxide detection:
- Send a written notice to the property owner or the property manager.
- Allow 10 days for the owner to respond for non-essential services.
- Allow 48 hours for the owner to respond for essential services.
- If there is no response, you can submit a complaint to the City – online or using this form.
How to file a complaint
A complaint may be filed with the City only after the renter has sent written notice to the owner or the property manager (see above). The renter must allow 10 days for the owner to respond to the alleged violation. The complaint must include the following information:
- Name of person filing the complaint, and if different, the name of the affected tenant. Complaints may not be submitted anonymously.
- Name of the owner or the owner’s agent.
- Address of the dwelling unit with the alleged violation.
- A complete description of the alleged violation.
- A copy of the written notice of the alleged code violation that has been sent by the tenant to the owner or the owner’s agent.
- Complaint investigations will begin only after the steps above have been followed.
Complaint processing
If City staff determines that the renter’s complaint is valid, the property owner will receive a notice to correct with a description of the violation and given 10 days to correct. If City staff determines that the required repairs may take longer than 10 days, the property owner will be asked to submit an acceptable compliance schedule.
Issues not covered by the rental code
Other rental housing issues, such housing discrimination, may be covered by local or federal regulations, like the Fair Housing Act. Rental housing discrimination occurs when landlords take actions based on a person’s race, national origin, color, religion, sex, age, source of income, sexual orientation, disability or familial status. To learn more, visit our page on Fair Housing.