Santa Barbara County has issued correction notices to 23 properties as part of its Isla Vista rental housing inspection pilot program.
A total of 144 units on 60 different Isla Vista properties have been inspected so far, halfway through the one year program.
Lisa Plowman, the county’s planning and development director, gave that update at a Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting earlier this month.
Inspectors have seen a lack of smoke detectors, lack of hot water, and pest infestations, as well as minor repairs needed to flooring and kitchen appliances as the most common issues so far.
The county established the program last summer using funds from a $3.7-million settlement with UC Santa Barbara over the university failing to create enough housing for its students and faculty.
The goal was to hold landlords accountable for doing required maintenance and make sure rentals meet basic health and safety standards.
One violation notice was sent to a property on the ocean side of the 6500 block of Del Playa Drive after residents reported a leak following the mid-November storms.
“I’m really glad they called because they were living in pretty terrible conditions,” Plowman told the board.
Plowman added that the property owner has been cooperative and improvements are being made.
The county also shared that inspectors have been denied access to 208 rental units.
Second district county Supervisor Laura Capps said there’s been a “concerted effort” to get tenants to refuse inspections, claiming landlords have told tenants to not allow the them, even putting it in lease agreements, and spreading rumors that inspectors were checking immigration status.
“There’s some really nefarious things going on to show really what Isla Vista tenants are up against,” Capps said. “They’re fearful, which is why we need the program because they’re fearful that they’re going to get evicted or they’re not going to get their security deposit back if they report mold.”
As part of the program, the county sends out notices to property owners 15 days before an inspection. The property owner or a representative is required to be on site during an inspection, but they can proceed without the property owner if the tenant allows inspectors inside.
The county has completed inspections on Del Playa Drive and is scheduling inspections for units on Sabado Tarde, according to the county staff report.
