How to Apply for a Low-Income Senior Tenant Fee Waiver

For very-low-income seniors (62 and older) who apply and qualify, we will waive the annual Rent Control registration fee that owners are required to pay for your unit. The owner will save $228 per year and not be able to pass-through half of the registration fee to you as a monthly surcharge. Currently, the monthly surcharge is $9.50, so applying for this waiver may reduce your monthly rent by that amount. To qualify for the 2023 fee waiver, the total income for your household in 2022 may not have exceeded the amounts shown below.

Household Size Maximum Annual Income: 

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The following steps will help you apply for a low-income senior Rent Control fee-waiver

  1. Step 1: Get the Application

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    You may download an application here. You can fill the type directly on the form, but you will need to print it when you have finished. If you would rather get a paper application from us, please email us at rentcontrol@santamonica.gov or call (310) 458-8751 during business hours to request that an application be mailed to you.

  2. Step 2: Provide Tenant Information

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    Provide your contact information and list all other people in your household who are 18 years of age or older. Use an additional sheet if necessary.

  3. Step 3: Attach proof of age

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    Please provide a copy of at least one of the following:

    • Driver’s license
    • State ID card
    • Birth certificate
    • Passport
    • Form SSA-2458


  4. Step 4: Provide proof of income

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    Please provide all that apply:

    • A complete copy of last year’s tax return (or previous year if last year’s not filed)
    • Form SSA-1099 or SSA-2458 (SSI income)
    • Checking account statement
    • Documentation of all income not listed on return

  5. Step 5: Enter income information for each member of the household.

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    For all members of your household with an income we require: (1) a U.S. Individual Tax Return Form 1040 (if one was filed); and/or, (2) a Report of Confidential Social Security Benefit Information, known as Form SSA-1099 or Form SSA-2458, or a printout or bank statement showing direct deposit of benefits you or your family members receive. 

    Call the Social Security Information Teleservice Number (800) 772-1213 for forms. If they are sending you Form SSA-2458, ask them to fill in the amount of SS benefits, if any, on line 2; the amount of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), if any, on line 5; and your date of birth on line 8. 

    Finally, you may be asked for statements regarding money deposits, annuities or investments.

  6. Step 6: Estimate total value of assets

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    Do you have assets including savings accounts, IRA accounts, investments, property, etc. valued at over $100.000? If so, mark yes on the form and provide an estimated total value. If not, mark no. 

  7. Step 7: Print the form and complete the Declaration

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    Print the application and sign the declaration affirming that all information stated on this form is true and correct with a pen. 

  8. Step 8: Mail the completed form and supporting documents

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    Mail the completed application form and all supporting documents to:


    Santa Monica Rent Control
    1685 Main Street, Room 202
    Santa Monica, CA 90401

    You do not need to send the form or any of the supporting documents to your landlord. 

    Rent Control Staff will reach out to you and your landlord in writing about the fee waiver and any next steps that may be required. 

Coming soon!

Tenants can now file this form entirely online using our new CIVICS online portal! To begin, you must first set up a CIVICS user profile. You can do that by completing this simple CIVICS Request Form. Once we have received your request, we will configure an account for you. You will then receive an email with your login information and a temporary password. Please note that until you receive your login information, you will not be able to use CIVICS.