UC Irvine Policy

Update to the University Hills Rental Unit Eligibility Policy

11/29/2023 version — update by ICHA

ELIGIBILITY POLICY

Irvine Campus Housing Authority (“ICHA”) is an equal housing opportunity provider and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, handicap, disability, medical condition, genetic information, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, immigration status, citizenship, marital status, familial status, source of income, veteran or military status, or any arbitrary basis.

ICHA offers apartments and townhomes for rent in four separate housing communities: Gabrielino Apartments, Santiago Apartments, Alturas Townhomes, and Miramonte Townhomes (collectively, the “ICHA Rental Communities”).

The mission of ICHA Rental Communities is to provide affordable housing for the faculty and staff employees of the University of California, Irvine (“UCI”), in order to foster an active academic community and environment on the UCI campus.

This policy clarifies the eligibility for rental units in the Housing Program as defined in the Ground Lease and Ground Sublease.  Prior UCI policies regarding rental units in the Housing Program have existed since 1990 including 1) “Maximum Period of Occupancy for Santiago, Los Lomas and Gabrielino Apartments” (approved May 21, 2009), 2) “On-Campus Faculty /Staff Rental Housing” (approved June 20, 2003), and 3) “Priority Categories for On-Campus Faculty/Staff Rentals” (approved June 4, 1990).

Eligibility Criteria: ICHA Rental Communities apartments and townhomes are available only to full-time faculty and staff employees of UCI (“Qualified Employees”). Qualified Employees are eligible for unfurnished apartments at ICHA Rental Communities in the following order of priority classification:

1. Newly recruited* members of the Academic Senate and the Senior Management Group
2. Current members of the Academic Senate and the Senior Management Group
3. Newly recruited* members of the University’s non-Senate Academic Staff** and newly recruited* members of the Management and Senior Professional Group
4. Current members of the non-Senate Academic Staff and Management and Senior Professional Group
5. Other University Staff members

* Newly recruited status extends for a period of one year following date of hire, after which the employee moves to the corresponding current category. However, if an apartment has not been offered within the first year, then newly recruited status is extended until an offer is made, but only up to a maximum total of two years.

** Examples of academic staff include visiting, clinical, and adjunct professors; lecturers; project scientists; post-doctoral and professional researchers; specialists; and librarians.

Residency Requirements: Qualified Employees must live in the rented premises as the employee’s sole and primary place of residence.  Upon the Qualified Employee’s vacating of the premises, any remaining resident will cease to be eligible to live in the premises. The Qualified Employee is prohibited from renting an apartment at ICHA Rental Communities if they are a homeowner in University Hills.

Compliance with Rental Agreement Terms and Legal Requirements:  Qualified Employees must comply with the terms and conditions of the Rental Agreement, and all laws, regulations, rules, rulings, policies, procedures, restrictions, requirements, and guidelines governing the Housing Program and/or affecting the rented premises.  Any violation or failure to perform any applicable covenant, term, or condition shall constitute a material breach of the Rental Agreement and may be grounds for immediate termination of the Rental Agreement and Qualified Employee’s rights to remain in the rented premises.

LOSS OF RENTAL ELIGIBILITY

Rental eligibility is contingent upon the Qualified Employee’s continued full-time employment with UCI.  If the employee ceases to be employed full-time by UCI, neither Qualified Employee nor any additional occupant (e.g., family or an approved UCI employee roommate) may continue to reside in the rented premises beyond the time limitations listed below.

Rental Housing Time Limitations After Loss of Eligibility

Loss of Full-Time Employment: Upon a Qualified Employee’s full-time employment status changing to less than full-time, a Qualified Employee and any additional occupants may remain in the rented premises for the balance of the academic year following the status change. During that time, if the Qualified Employee’s status returns to full-time or if the Qualified Employee is notified by UCI that they will be returned to full time status the subsequent Academic Year, they may remain in the rented premises upon providing written documentation from UCI on full time status. Otherwise, the Qualified Employee and any additional occupants must vacate the premises at the end of the academic year. Resident shall submit a thirty (30) day notice to vacate no later than May 31st of that Academic Year or landlord will issue a Notice to Vacate, the precise timing of which will be subject to applicable laws

Termination/Separation of Employment: Upon termination or separation of employment, a Qualified Employee and any additional occupants may remain in the rented premises for thirty (30) to sixty (60) days after the Qualified Employee’s termination/separation of employment with UCI, subject to applicable laws.

Retirement: Upon retirement, a Qualified Employee and any additional occupants may remain in the rented premises for three (3) months after the Qualified Employee’s date of retirement.

Retirement with Recall: In some circumstances, UCI may ask a recently retired Qualified Employee to be on recall for a period of time.  In such circumstances where a prior Qualified Employee transitions to a formal, contracted recall position at UCI, whether fulfilling a paid or unpaid role, such employee shall be permitted a one-time extension to stay in the rental unit until the end of the academic year after transitioning out of the formal full-time employee status. In any event, the extended stay may be no longer than 12 months or the end of the academic year, whichever is shorter.

Death:  After the death of a Qualifying Employee, any surviving immediate family who resides in the rented premises may remain in the rented premises for three (3) months after the death of the Qualified Employee. “Immediate family” for purposes of this section includes the following:

• An established long-term relationship with an exclusive mutual commitment in which members share the necessities of life and ongoing responsibility for common welfare.
• A spouse/domestic partner.
• A fiancé.
• Dependent children under 18 years of age.
• Children over 18 years of age who meet the requirements for legally dependent status.
• Parents of either the Qualified Employee or the Qualified Employee’s spouse/domestic partner.
• Grandparents of either the Qualified Employee or the Qualified Employee’s spouse/domestic partner.

Any other additional occupants not defined as “immediate family” (e.g., approved UCI employee roommate) may remain in the rented premises for thirty (30) to sixty (60) days after the Qualified Employee’s death, subject to applicable laws.