REAP Properties
What is REAP?
REAP, short for Rent Escrow Account Program, is a city-administered arrangement dedicated towards addressing the most pressing safety and habitability issues that arise in rental properties. Although it was originally designed to penalize slumlords for their wrongdoings, REAP is now used to ensure landlords all across the city adhere to the demands and rules of the Los Angeles Housing Department. If these orders are violated, the rent that tenants pay may be reduced by 10% to 50% depending on the severity of the situation. Thus, the program reinforces landlords’ inclination to carry out quick and effective repairs that may be making rental properties uninhabitable.
Acceptance Into REAP
LAMC Section 162.00 and RAC Regulations Section 1200.00 are used to determine the acceptance of rental properties into REAP. However, the placement of your unit into REAP is determined by another factor; your landlord possesses the right to dispute your unit’s acceptance into REAP according to LAMC Section 162.06.
You will know whether or not your unit has been accepted into REAP because a notice will be sent to you via mail once the decision has been finalized.
What Happens Once Your Unit Is Accepted?
There are several occurrences that will follow once your rental property has been accepted into REAP:
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You will acquire a rent reduction, and the exact amount will be shown on a REAP notice you are to receive.
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You can either pay the reduced monthly rent directly to your landlord, or through an escrow account that the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department (HCIDLA) will have created.
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You will be assigned an outreach contractor who will be able to address any questions or concerns you may have in regards to REAP.
If you need professional legal assistance regarding your situation and REAP properties, feel free to reach out to us by completing our online form here. The attorneys at Tenants Law Firm are here to help you through any sort of confusion or difficulty.