Orange County Rental Regulations: A Comprehensive Guide

As a landlord, you have certain rights and responsibilities concerning your rental property. But what exactly are the rental regulations in Orange County, California?

Orange County Rental Regulatory Landscape

There are several organizations in place to protect tenants and landlords in Orange County. The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) is the primary rental regulatory agency across the country. HUD handles certain housing complaints about discrimination and bad landlords.

Meanwhile, Orange County has its own housing counseling agency the Fair Housing Council of Orange County. FHCOC works to ensure equal access to housing in the region. A member of the National Fair Housing Alliance, the agency offers community education, personal counseling, mediation, and affordable advocacy.

Fair Housing Act Protections

Under the Fair Housing Act, landlords must NOT discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, handicap, familial status, or national origin. This includes (but is not limited to)

Denying or refusing rent
Treating rental applicants differently
Treating residents differently concerning the lease
Advertising discriminatory housing preferences or limitations
Providing false information about rental availability
Harassing, coercing, or intimidating tenants (or prospective tenants) to prevent them from exercising their FHA rights

Livable Condition

If a tenant or potential tenant complains that property is unlivable, California and Orange County courts will assess whether it substantially lacks certain standards. For example, it must have working plumbing, electric, and gas systems and the roof, walls, and windows should not leak.

Rental Unit Repairs

By law, landlords must maintain rental units and common areas in habitable condition. That is, unless the tenant caused the problem. In this context, habitable means free of issues that could impact the safety and health of tenants or impede the normal use of the property.

Raising Rent

In August 2022, California capped rent at 10% for certain covered properties. While a landlord can raise rental prices under 10% and still give the standard 30-days notice, they must give at least 90-days notice if the increase is above 10%.

Upholding The Lease

A rental lease is binding. It grants both the landlord and tenant certain rights for a fixed period of time. Neither tenant nor landlord can terminate the lease without just cause. So, if a tenant breaks the lease in any way (failing to pay rent, damaging the property, etc.), the landlord reserves the right to terminate the tenancy. The same goes for the tenant if the landlord breaks the terms of the lease.

For more common Orange County landlord-tenant FAQs, visit the FHCOC website.

True Property Management | #1 Choice For Landlords Across Orange County, CA

There is a reason Orange County landlords come to True Property Management time and time again for their property management needs. Our licensed real estate managers will ensure you not only comply with Orange County rental regulations, but that you leave your tenants happy and satisfied.

Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you!

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