The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors this week voted unanimously to implement a new Rental Housing Habitability Program that will require more frequent inspections of apartments in unincorporated areas of the county.

This decision introduces mandatory inspections at least once every four years, a significant change from the previous system that was primarily based on tenant complaints.

The 5-0 vote establishes a framework where landlords who do not address code violations could have their rental payments redirected into a Rent Escrow Account Program until the issues are resolved. Currently, county inspections are conducted reactively, often limited to a small percentage of units based on tenant reports. The newly approved system aligns with methods employed by the city of Los Angeles, including the imposition of an annual inspection fee of $86 per unit. Landlords will have the option to pass half of this fee onto tenants.

Fred Sutton, senior vice president of local public affairs for the California Apartment Association, emphasized the need for targeted enforcement. In a letter to the supervisors, Sutton proposed a differentiated inspection schedule and cost structure for properties with excellent compliance records, which he refers to as “gold star” properties. These properties, according to Sutton, “should face lower costs and less frequent or randomly sampled inspections,” advocating for a system that distinguishes between landlords based on their compliance history.

“We want to have safe, habitable housing. Inspections and enforcement should focus on those who neglect their duties,” Sutton emphasized, as reported by LAist. “Landlords who consistently maintain high standards and have a good history of compliance should not be subjected to the same frequency of inspections and associated costs as those with poor track records.”

In a nod to Sutton’s suggestion, Supervisor Holly Mitchell introduced an amendment for a potential “gold star” program to recognize and reward landlords with exemplary compliance records. However, such a program would not commence until five years into the implementation of the new inspection system.

The new inspection protocols are scheduled to begin six months after the vote, setting a timeline for adjustments to the current enforcement and oversight practices in unincorporated L.A. County.