The County of Los Angeles’ Rental Housing Habitability Program (RHHP) is authorized to inspect rental housing units in the unincorporated areas of the County, such as Altadena, for compliance with health and safety standards and will respond to tenant complaints. The Eaton fire created significant amounts of smoke and ash that deposited downwind from the fires. Air quality measurements during the fire found that the smoke contained toxins.
To meet state housing health and safety standards, landlords and/or rental property owners are required to maintain rental housing units in a safe and habitable condition. The likelihood of smoke damage from the Eaton Fire, including fire-related ash and soot in and around a rental housing property and/or a lingering smell of smoke, may present a health and safety risk to tenants and requires professional evaluation.
Rental Properties located in Unincorporated Altadena
The County RHHP program presumes that rental housing properties in unincorporated Altadena have been impacted by the Eaton fire. Upon receipt of a complaint from a tenant in unincorporated Altadena, an RHHP inspector will contact the tenant and arrange a time to inspect the rental housing property unit for smoke, ash, and soot issues. Because of the very close proximity to the Eaton Fire and its fire and smoke impacts, the RHHP inspector will contact the landlord and/or rental property owner and issue an order to hire a certified professional to:
- Evaluate the rental housing property for smoke, ash, and soot damage, including the interior of the unit(s) and the building systems (e.g., attics, HVAC systems, insulation, and ductwork).
- Perform testing as warranted to evaluate the fire’s impact on the habitability of the property.
Rental Properties Near and Downwind from Eaton Burn Area
Public Health will respond to tenant complaints by conducting inspections for smoke, ash and soot damage in all exterior and interior areas of the unit and cite landlords and/or rental property owners for any detected habitability violations and, if there are perceptible smoke or ash impacts from the Eaton fire, landlords and/or rental property owners will be ordered to hire certified professionals to evaluate the rental housing property, perform testing as warranted to evaluate the fire’s impact on the property, and perform necessary remediation.
Additional Information
Failure to comply with Public Health orders may result in further legal action. Retaliation against a tenant for exercising their rights is prohibited by Los Angeles County Code § 8.53.180.
To submit a complaint or make an inquiry regarding suspected smoke or ash damage from the Eaton Fire or for questions, contact our County’s Rental Housing Habitability Program (RHHP) via phone at (888) 700-9995 (select option 3) or via email at DPH-RHHP@ph.lacounty.gov.