SENIOR HOUSING INVESTIGATOR 8517 chez City of Los Angeles, CA

About the Department

ANNUAL SALARY

$103,230 to $150,920 and $127,848 to $186,917 

NOTES:

1. Candidates from the eligible list are normally appointed to vacancies in the lower pay grade positions.
2. Annual salary is at the start of the pay range. The current salary range is subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.

A Senior Housing Investigator plans, organizes and directs the work of Housing Investigators and clerical support staff engaged in the investigation and analysis of alleged violations of the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) and/or Housing Code (Los Angeles Municipal Code Chapters XV and XVI) and related office activities; handles the negotiation of more difficult complaint settlements and case closures; may act as an Assistant Director for Rent Stabilization or as a lead over other Senior Housing Investigators; may supervise a public information and payment counter within a field office; applies sound supervisory standards and techniques in building and maintaining an effective work group; fulfills equal employment opportunity responsibilities; and performs related work.

Position Duties

1. Two years of full-time paid experience with the City of Los Angeles at the level of Housing Investigator, investigating complaints, analyzing evidence and preparing legal documents related to civil or criminal enforcement actions under housing law; one year of which must include acting in a lead capacity over staff involved in performing these functions; or
2. Four years of full-time paid experience investigating complaints, analyzing evidence and preparing legal documents related to civil or criminal enforcement actions under housing law; one year of which must include supervision of staff.

A law degree from an accredited law school within the United States may be substituted for a maximum of two years of full-time paid experience as specified in Requirement #2; or

A paralegal certificate from an accredited paralegal training program within the United States may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the full-time paid experience as specified in Requirement #2.

PROCESS NOTES

1. As a condition of employment, a valid Class C driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required. Applicants will be disqualified and candidates will not be eligible for hire if their DMV record within the last 36 months reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation such as DUI or DWI in any state or jurisdiction. Notice of disqualification or ineligibility for hire may be issued by the City of Los Angeles at any time before a final job offer is extended.
2. For Internal Use Only: Licensing verification will occur at the time of filing. 
3. Applicants wishing to substitute a law degree for a maximum of two years of the required experience must list their school name and location, and type of law degree earned in the Education Section of the application.
4. Applicants wishing to substitute a valid paralegal certificate for a maximum of one year of the required experience must list their school name and location, and completion date in the Education Section of the application.
5. A law degree and a paralegal certificate cannot be combined. Either one will be accepted, but not both, as substitute for the experience requirements in Requirement #2.
6. Please note that qualifying education must be from a college or university accredited by a City of Los Angeles recognized agency. A list of approved accrediting agencies can be found at http://per.lacity.org/Accredited%20Institutions%2008-21-08.pdf.
7. Candidates completing the examination process who qualified for Requirement #2 by substituting a law degree or paralegal certificate for a portion of the experience needed will be contacted by the Personnel Department to provide required proof of qualifying degree or certificate. Applicants who wish to expedite this process may attach a copy of their qualifying law degree or valid paralegal certificate to their on-line application at the time of filing in the Attachments section.

Minimum Qualifications

Applications will only be accepted on-line. When you are viewing the on-line job bulletin of your choice, simply scroll to the top of the page and select the “Apply” icon. On-line job bulletins are also available at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacity.

NOTE:

Applicants are urged to apply early to ensure you have time to resolve any technical issues you may encounter.

Applications must be received by THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2025.

In accordance with Civil Service Rule 4.2, all applicants who apply may not be tested in this examination. To meet anticipated hiring needs, only a limited number of qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the selection process in the following order: 1) Los Angeles City promotional applicants who meet the minimum requirements. You must have received a regular appointment to a City position or be on a reserve list to apply for this examination as a promotional candidate; 2) Applicants currently employed by the City of Los Angeles on a part-time or exempt basis who meet the minimum requirements; 3) Remaining applicants who meet the minimum requirements in sufficient numbers to meet hiring needs based on a random sampling of those qualified candidates. Applications submitted during the filing period may be kept on file in the event that additional applicants need to be tested to meet hiring needs.

Other Qualifications

     Interview: 100%

The examination will consist entirely of an evaluation of professional and personal qualifications by interview. In the interview, the following competencies may be evaluated: Judgment and Decision Making; Analytical Ability; Supervision; Fact Finding; Interpersonal Skills; Oral Communication; Written Communication; Job Knowledge, including knowledge of: proper techniques and procedures for conducting investigations; applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules and regulations governing housing, real estate, business and landlord-tenant relations; court procedures, such as unlawful detainer and depositions related to housing issues; and other necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities. 

Additional job analysis information can be obtained by going to https://per.lacity.org/jobs/job-analyses.cfm and clicking on Competencies under Senior Housing Investigator.

Prior to the interview, candidates will be required to prepare some written material related to the duties and responsibilities of a Senior Housing Investigator. This essay material will not be separately scored, but will be presented to the interview board for review and consideration, which may include discussion, in the overall evaluation of the candidate. Those who do not complete the advisory essay will not be invited to the interview and will be considered to have failed the entire examination. To be considered complete, the advisory essay must include a substantive response for each question or problem included in the advisory essay for which a candidate is required to provide an answer. Please note that candidates must complete the advisory essay and meet the minimum qualifications as stated on this bulletin in order to be considered further in the examination process.

The advisory essay will be administered on-line. Candidates invited to participate in the examination will receive an e-mail from the City of Los Angeles outlining the specific steps needed to complete the on-line advisory essay. Candidates will be required to complete the on-line advisory essay between MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2025 and MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2025. Candidates who fail to complete the advisory essay as instructed may be disqualified.

Candidates will be notified later by e-mail of the date, time, and location of the interview, which may be held in Los Angeles or on-line. It is anticipated that the interviews will begin during the period of MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026 to FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2026.

NOTES:

1. This examination is based on a validation study.
2. As a covered entity under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. To request a disability accommodation, please complete the Disability Accommodation Form within 14 calendar days of the submittal of the City application. The Disability Accommodation Form can be obtained athttp://per.lacity.org/exams/verify_disability.pdf.
3. Applications are accepted subject to review to ensure that minimum qualifications are met. Candidates may be disqualified at any time if it is determined that they do not possess the minimum qualifications stated on this bulletin.
4. In conjunction with Civil Service Rules, applicants who have received a regular appointment to a City position or are on a reserve list will be considered Promotional candidates while all other applicants will be considered Open candidates.
5. The promotional list will ordinarily be used ahead of the open competitive list. However, if open competitive candidates receive a higher score, without military credits, than the highest available promotional candidate, after adding seniority credit at the rate of 0.25 of a point for each year of continuous classified City service, the Civil Service Commission, upon request of the appointing authority, may approve certification of such open competitive candidates ahead of the promotional candidates.
6. A final average score of 70% or higher is required to be placed on the eligible list.
7. In accordance with Civil Service Rule, Sec. 4.24, review periods may be combined. Candidates in the examination process may file protests as provided in Sec. 4.20, 4.22, and 4.23 as applicable and within the required time frame; however, the Personnel Department may respond to and resolve protests prior to the establishment of the eligible list.
8. If in accordance with the Rule of Three Whole Scores all candidates are eligible for appointment consideration, the examination will consist entirely of an evaluation of the candidate’s City employment application by Personnel Department staff to ensure that the minimum qualifications have been met.

Notice:

If you receive and accept an offer of employment to a regular position with the City of Los Angeles, your employee benefit coverage (including health and dental coverage as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment. Not all positions in the City receive benefit coverage; you should inquire regarding the availability of employee benefits prior to accepting a position. All City employees are required to be Disaster Service Workers.

THIS EXAMINATION IS TO BE GIVEN BOTH ON AN

INTERDEPARTMENTAL PROMOTIONAL AND OPEN COMPETITIVE BASIS

The City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender identity, gender expression, disability, creed, color, ancestry, medical condition (cancer), or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

For additional information and FAQs regarding the City's hiring process, please go to: https://per.lacity.org/faqs/employment-testing-process.html