REAP provides an additional method for enforcing the County’s new rental housing inspection program for unincorporated Los Angeles County, known as the Rental Housing Habitability Program (RHHP).

It serves as an enforcement tool to facilitate compliance with habitability standards by collecting fines from landlords and allowing affected tenants to pay reduced rent into an escrow account while cited violations remain unresolved. These programs work together to ensure that all rental housing properties and units in the unincorporated areas of the County are maintained in accordance with the California Health and Safety code, safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of tenants.

Pursuant to Title 8 – Consumer Protection, Business and Wage Regulations, Division 3 – Housing, Chapter 8.53 – Rental Housing Habitability Program (RHHP) of the Los Angeles County Code, RHHP is administered by the Department of Public Health (DPH).

Pursuant to Title 8 – Consumer Protection, Business and Wage Regulations, Division 3 – Housing, Chapter 8.55  of the Los Angeles County Code, REAP is administered by the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA).

The County’s Rental Housing Habitability Program (RHHP) Inspector will conduct rental housing inspections and monitors compliance with repair orders. If landlords fail to comply timely, the Inspector will notify the County Housing Program Chief (CHPC).

After reviewing the current conditions, the CHPC may recommend placing a property into REAP and request an administrative hearing with the Office of County Hearing Officer (OCHO) to address ongoing violations and outstanding orders.

During a hearing, the Hearing Officer will review inspection reports and evidence presented before deciding whether to order the property into REAP and impose other conditions and penalties. All parties have the right to appeal the decision.

OCHO will notify both landlords and tenants in writing when a property is placed into REAP.

For more information on RHHP inspections, please visit the Department of Public Health’s RHHP website or contact the Rental Housing Habitability Program by email at DPH-RHHP@ph.lacounty.gov.

For questions regarding the hearing process and procedures, please visit:

Office of County Counsel | County of Los Angeles (OCHO)
Online: counsel.lacounty.gov/ocho
Email: ocho@counsel.lacounty.gov
Phone: 213-972-5739

Once your property or unit is placed into REAP, the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) will open an escrow account for each rental housing property or unit. Under REAP, the following applies:

• Placement in REAP is recorded with the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder.
• Landlords are subject to a monthly administrative fee of $137 for each rental housing property and/or unit in REAP.
• Landlords must attend a REAP Workshop within 30 days of REAP placement.
• Tenants can pay a court ordered reduced rent into an escrow account until repairs are completed.
• Both Tenants and Landlords may apply to withdraw funds from escrow accounts to cover the cost of required repairs.

When the CHPC at the Department of Public Health (DPH) recommends a rental housing property or unit for placement into REAP, DPH will request an administrative hearing date and inform landlords and tenants with a Notice of Administrative Hearing.

Upon conclusion of the hearing, written orders for REAP Placement and Rent Reduction will be issued to landlords and tenants of the affected units.

Following the placement of your unit into REAP, the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) will notify landlords and tenants of the opening of escrow accounts and payment options.

For more information on program procedures, please refer to the REAP STANDARDS.

Once your rental housing property or unit(s) are placed into REAP, DCBA will issue an invoice to landlords with the following payment options:

Fee payments can be made in-person – by check, cashier’s check, or money order at:
DCBA Headquarters
320 West Temple Street, Room G-10
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

You can also mail your fee payment – by check, cashier’s check, or money order to:
DCBA
320 West Temple St., Room G-10
Los Angeles, CA 90012
ATTN: Rent Escrow Account Program

PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS:

• Checks should be made payable to: Department of Consumer and Business Affairs.
• All checks and money orders must include the Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) for the REAP Property.

Online and credit/debit card payment options are coming soon.

Once your rental housing property or unit(s) are placed into REAP, DCBA will notify tenants of escrow accounts with the following deposit options:

Rent payments can be made in-person – by check, cashier’s check, or money order at:
DCBA Headquarters
320 West Temple Street, Room G-10
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

You can also mail your rent payment – by check, cashier’s check, or money order to:
DCBA
320 West Temple St., Room G-10
Los Angeles, CA 90012
ATTN: Rent Escrow Account Program

PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS:

• Checks should be made payable to: Department of Consumer and Business Affairs
• All checks and money orders must include the Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) for the REAP property AND the complete property or unit address.

Online and credit/debit card payment options are coming soon.

For questions, please contact:

Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs
Rent Escrow Account Program
Phone: 800-593-8222 (Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
Email: reap@dcba.lacounty.gov
Online: dcba.lacounty.gov/reap

To file a habitability complaint, CLICK HERE.

You can also file a complaint by calling:
Environmental Health Customer Call Center
(888) 700-9995
Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., excluding Holidays. 

For questions regarding the hearing process, procedures, or technical access, please contact:
Office of County Counsel | County of Los Angeles (OCHO)
Online: counsel.lacounty.gov/ocho
Email: ocho@counsel.lacounty.gov
Phone: 213-972-5739

If you have any questions regarding the submission of evidence, please email: EHlnfo@ph.lacountv.gov

To learn more about REAP program procedures, rules and regulations, please refer to the REAP STANDARDS

If you are interested in registering for a REAP Workshop, please contact:

Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs
Rent Escrow Account Program
Phone: 800-593-8222 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
Email: reap@dcba.lacounty.gov

Coming Soon

Coming Soon