Preparing for Your RHHP Inspection: A Walkthrough for Tenants

If you’re a renter in unincorporated LA County and your landlord mentioned an “RHHP inspection” is happening, you probably have questions.

This post is for you—not your landlord, not property managers, but you, the person who actually lives in the unit being inspected.

What Is RHHP and Why Is It Happening?

RHHP stands for Rental Housing Habitability Program. It’s a new LA County program that started in October 2024, requiring all rental units in unincorporated areas to be inspected every four years.

The purpose is simple: to make sure rental housing meets basic health and safety standards.

This isn’t about catching tenants doing something wrong. It’s about making sure landlords maintain properties at a livable standard.

What Will the Inspector Look At?

RHHP inspections focus on habitability—the basic conditions that make a rental safe to live in:

• Structural Integrity — Walls, floors, ceilings in good condition
• Plumbing — Working hot and cold water, functional toilet and drains
• Electrical — Working outlets and switches, proper GFCI protection
• Heating — Working heat source in living areas
• Safety Devices — Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Doors and Windows — Functional locks, opens and closes properly
• General Conditions — No pest infestations, no mold, adequate ventilation

What the Inspector Will NOT Do

This is important:

• I won’t go through your belongings. I’m looking at the building, not your stuff.
• I won’t report you to your landlord. If your apartment is messy, that’s between you and your landlord.
• I won’t snoop around. I need access to specific areas—bathrooms, kitchen, bedrooms—but I’m not interested in anything else.
• I won’t stay longer than necessary. A typical unit inspection takes 60-90 minutes.

Your Rights as a Tenant

• 24-Hour Notice — Your landlord must give you at least 24 hours written notice before entering.
• Reasonable Hours — Inspections should happen during normal business hours unless you agree otherwise.
• Right to Be Present — You can be there during the inspection. I encourage it.
• Privacy — The inspector should only examine building components, not personal belongings.
• No Retaliation — Your landlord cannot legally retaliate against you because of inspection results.

Do I Need to Prepare?

You don’t need to do anything special, but here are some things that help:

Make sure there’s access to:

• Under-sink cabinets (I need to check plumbing)
• The water heater (if it’s inside your unit)
• Electrical panel (if it’s inside your unit)
• All smoke/CO detectors

You don’t need to:

• Deep clean your home
• Hide personal items
• Move furniture (I’ll work around it)
• Feel embarrassed about normal living conditions

What If Problems Are Found?

Here’s something important: if the inspection finds problems, that’s a good thing for you.

Problems discovered during an RHHP inspection become the landlord’s responsibility to fix. You’re not in trouble—they are. The inspection creates documentation that your landlord needs to address habitability issues.

What This Inspection Actually Protects

I know it might feel like an intrusion. Someone you don’t know coming into your home, looking around, taking notes.

But this inspection exists because some landlords don’t maintain their properties. Some tenants live with code violations, health hazards, and unsafe conditions because they don’t know their rights or fear retaliation.

RHHP levels the playing field. It means every rental property gets inspected, whether tenants complain or not.

If you have any questions before or after an inspection, feel free to reach out. I’m happy to explain anything you’re unsure about.

Nathan Sewell LA Building Inspections & Compliance (626) 214-5929 nathan@larentalinspections.com

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