What it costs
What property management costs in Humboldt County
Two fees, both published, with the arithmetic done on real local rents.
The two fees
A monthly fee and a placement fee. That is all.
Full management is 10% of the monthly rent. Placing a tenant is a one-time fee of half of one month’s rent. There is no setup fee, no statement fee, and no markup on maintenance. Vendors invoice us and the cost passes through to you with nothing added, so no repair pays us more than any other.
The median gross rent in Humboldt County is $1,287 a month. At that rent, management costs $128.70 a month and placing a tenant costs $643.50 once.
Housing figures: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 (tables B25003, B25064, B25077). This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Worked by town
What that comes to where you own
Rents differ across the county, so the same percentage produces different numbers. These use the median gross rent for each place.
| Where | Median rent | 10% monthly | Placement, once |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKinleyville | $1,607 | $160.70 | $803.50 |
| Arcata | $1,327 | $132.70 | $663.50 |
| Humboldt County | $1,287 | $128.70 | $643.50 |
| Eureka | $1,195 | $119.50 | $597.50 |
Your actual rent sets your actual fee. We work through the full schedule with you before you sign anything.
Housing figures: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 (tables B25003, B25064, B25077). This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
What the state sets
Two rules that apply to every rental in California
What you may hold as a deposit is capped by statute. California Civil Code section 1950.5 provides that a landlord “shall not demand or receive security, however denominated, in an amount or value in excess of an amount equal to one month’s rent.” An owner who is a natural person, or an LLC whose members are all natural persons, and who owns no more than two residential rental properties totalling no more than four units, may hold up to two months’ rent instead. That exception does not apply when the tenant is a service member.
Managing a rental for someone else requires a broker licence. Business and Professions Code section 10131 defines a real estate broker as a person who, for compensation, “leases or rents or offers to lease or rent, or places for rent, or solicits listings of places for rent, or solicits for prospective tenants… or collects rents from real property.” Lazzar Realty is a licensed California brokerage, DRE #00839478, and has been in Humboldt County since 1984.
Sources: Cal. Civil Code § 1950.5 and Cal. Business & Professions Code § 10131. General information about California law, not legal advice for your situation.
Questions owners ask
How much do property managers charge in Humboldt County?
Lazzar Realty charges 10% of the monthly rent for full management, and a one-time tenant placement fee of half of one month's rent. On the Humboldt County median gross rent of $1,287, that is $128.70 a month and $643.50 once.
Is there a setup fee or a statement fee?
No. The two fees above are the two fees. There is no setup fee, no statement fee, and no markup on maintenance work.
Do you take a percentage of repairs?
No. Vendors invoice us and the cost passes to you with nothing added, so no repair pays us more than any other.
What is the difference between the monthly fee and the placement fee?
The placement fee is one-time and covers marketing, showings, screening and the signed lease. The 10% monthly fee covers management for the duration of the agreement: rent collection, maintenance coordination, and your monthly statement.
Do I pay the monthly fee when the unit is empty?
The management fee is a percentage of rent collected, so an empty unit collects no rent and pays no management fee.