FAQs • Richmond • CivicEngage

What happens if I do not fill out a Property Enrollment form?: If a Landlord has failed to: (1) enroll a Rental Unit with the Rent Board as provided in Regulation 405; (2) register a tenancy in a Controlled Rental Unit with the Rent Board as provided in Regulation 402 and Regulation 405; and/or (3) file with the Board a notice of a rent increase, change in terms of tenancy, or termination of tenancy as provided in Regulation 603 and Regulation 1001, a Tenant in an unlawful detainer action may obtain from a Rent Program staff member a Certification stating that to the best of the knowledge of the Rent Board staff, the Rental Unit was not enrolled, the tenancy in a Controlled Rental Unit was not registered, and/or the required notice was not filed with the Rent Board in accordance with this Regulation, and assert the aforementioned noncompliance as an affirmative defense in an unlawful detainer action.

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Enrollment and Registration

1. Which Landlords are responsible for submitting a Property Enrollment form?: A Landlord must enroll with the Rent Board all of a Landlord’s Rental Units, except for those that are fully exempted from the provisions of the Richmond Fair Rent, Just Cause For Eviction, and Homeowner Protection Ordinance pursuant to Regulation 201.

2. Must the Property Enrollment form be submitted each year?: Once a property enrollment form has been submitted, it doesn’t need to be submitted again for until there is a change in (1) Ownership (mailing, address, phone number, email, etc.) or (2) change in Property Manager/ Agent, or a (3) change in the status of a rental unit. The form for updating a Property Enrollment form is known as an Amended Enrollment Form.

3. Which types of properties require the filing of Tenancy Registration forms?: Owners of any properties containing more than one dwelling unit on the parcel (2+ units) that were built prior to February 1, 1995, must complete a Tenancy Registration form for each Rental Unit on the property, with the exemption of Rental Units receiving governmental subsidy (e.g. Section 8, LIHTC, Section 202). Please note that properties containing a “single family home” built prior to February 1, 1995, with one or more additional unpermitted residential dwelling units are considered multi-unit properties and require the completion of Tenancy Registration forms.

4. What happens if I do not fill out a Property Enrollment form?: If a Landlord has failed to: (1) enroll a Rental Unit with the Rent Board as provided in Regulation 405; (2) register a tenancy in a Controlled Rental Unit with the Rent Board as provided in Regulation 402 and Regulation 405; and/or (3) file with the Board a notice of a rent increase, change in terms of tenancy, or termination of tenancy as provided in Regulation 603 and Regulation 1001, a Tenant in an unlawful detainer action may obtain from a Rent Program staff member a Certification stating that to the best of the knowledge of the Rent Board staff, the Rental Unit was not enrolled, the tenancy in a Controlled Rental Unit was not registered, and/or the required notice was not filed with the Rent Board in accordance with this Regulation, and assert the aforementioned noncompliance as an affirmative defense in an unlawful detainer action.

5. How often must a Landlord submit a Tenancy Registration form?: Landlords must submit a new Tenancy Registration form when there is a complete turnover of original occupants in a rental unit. Access the Tenancy Registration form at the following link: https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/47797/Tenancy-Registration-Form-Fillable

6. I need to update my contact information (mailing address, phone number, email, etc.), how do I do that?: Please visit www.richmondrent.org/enroll and complete the Amended Property Enrollment form with the information you want to update.