Back in March 2017, the city of Davis implemented a Rental Registration, Education and Inspection Program. Along with the shortage of housing, one of the pervasive complaints in the community, especially by student renters, has been the number of substandard, over-over-crowded housing units that are out of compliance with the state and local laws.
There are some questions in the community about the program, which was implemented in order to regulate the rental housing market and hopefully gain compliance from landlords with state and local laws.
The city has a Fair Housing program that assists in “monitoring and enforcing fair housing rights” as required under federal fair housing laws that regulate and prohibit discrimination in housing.
“The Rental Resources Program works in conjunction with Fair Housing Services in educating and assisting individuals with rental-related issues,” the city told the Vanguard.
Since it was implemented, city staff has now received hundreds of calls and emails from tenants, landlords, and neighbors with various rental concerns.
The city explained, “Depending on the issue, individuals may be referred to various outside agencies including, but not limited to, Northern California Legal Services for assistance in civil matters; Yolo Conflict Resolution Center for mediation services; the State of California Department of Fair Employment and Housing; or the Associated Students, University of California, Davis (ASUCD) legal services for undergraduate students attending UC Davis.”
The city explained, “Using a thorough rental agreement or lease, compliant with state law, is one of the best ways to protect tenants’ rights and avoid misunderstandings between landlord and tenant.”
Over the years, the Davis Model Lease has been a sore spot for many student renters. The Model Lease, the city explained, widely used by landlords in Davis, “is owned by the Associated Students, 
University of California, Davis (ASUCD) and is currently in need of updating.”
That process is beginning with the UC Davis Student Housing and Dining Services working to form “an Off-Campus Housing office and there will be an opportunity for the Davis Model Lease to be updated and maintained.”
Until then, “up-to-date leases that are compliant with California rental laws are available online through reputable organizations, including the California Association of Realtors, NOLO Press, and many others.”
A key question has been the extent to which the city has implemented the rental inspection program. One of the key components is registration.
According to the city, “The Rental Resources Program currently has built up to a 75% rental property registration compliance rate and the program is working diligently to ensure full compliance.”
As part of the ordinance,” landlords are required to register with the City of Davis, distribute a copy of the Renter’s Rights and Responsibility form to all tenants, and use the Rental Resources Program form, or a similar, city-approved form, for conducting walk-through inspections upon a tenant’s move-in and move-out.”
A website (http://www.cityofdavis.org/rentalresources) has been created with information and resources for tenants, landlords, and neighbors.
“The program has intentionally been rolled out in a multi-phase approach,” the city notes. “After hiring staff and developing initial program features, staff focused on registering rental properties. 3008 properties have been registered to date.”
In addition, “staff developed and rolled out several outreach and education efforts, both for renters (focusing on students) and for landlords.”
According to the city, “These have been well received and attended.”
The city is now looking to implement the final step of the inspection program.
“The final step to fully implement the inspection portion of the program is in process and should be running within the next few months,” the city explained. “In the meantime, inspections are completed when a complaint is received. The Building Division investigates the complaint and inspects to determine if there may be significant code issues.”
The city further explained, “In addition to program fees paid by landlords to support the program, the MOU reached with UC Davis in 2018 has UC Davis contributing an additional $25,000 per year on an ongoing basis to allow for further Rental Resources Program enhancements.”
Finally, “the City Council has asked staff to provide a program status update this Fall, along with recommendations for possible program enhancements. The City welcomes ideas and suggestions.”
—David M. Greenwald reporting
Here is the best way to deal with renting in Davis:
1) Take pictures when you move in – have the rental manager sign off.
2) Document any issues with the landlord or repairs right when they happen.
3) When you move out, insist that the manager do a walk-through after you have cleaned, and sign-off that you will get your FULL deposit back, or have them tell you, in writing, what it would take to get it back.
4) If they return only part of your deposit, FIGHT IT. Even if it’s not worth the money (which is why they give you part of it back — just enough you won’t fight it) FIGHT IT anyway, for the sake of the next renter. They are likely to pay you if you are persistent (annoying) enough, because the vast majority of people just give up and take the hit.
Hard-won experience from renting at several Davis locations during my college days, and getting the ‘standard 70%’ back on a couple of clean places. Once I started doing #3, I got the full deposits back after that.