As of July 1, 2024 (AB 12), most California landlords may collect a security deposit of no more than ONE month's rent, whether the unit is furnished or unfurnished. All deposits combined — pet, key, cleaning, 'last month's rent' — count toward that one-month cap.
You may deduct for unpaid rent, cleaning to move-in condition, and damage beyond normal wear and tear — never for ordinary wear. Send the itemized statement and any receipts within 21 days, with before/after photos.
Eviction in California is a court process called 'unlawful detainer.' It starts with a written notice (commonly a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit, or to cure a lease violation), then a court case. A landlord can never force a tenant out without a court order.
For covered units, once a tenant has lived there 12+ months the landlord needs a legally recognized 'just cause' to end the tenancy — either 'at-fault' (e.g., nonpayment, lease violation) or 'no-fault' (e.g., owner move-in, withdrawal from rental market).
To end a month-to-month tenancy: 30 days' notice if the tenant has lived there less than a year, and 60 days' notice if a year or more. Just-cause rules (AB 1482) may also require a reason and relocation help.
When a landlord ends a covered tenancy for a 'no-fault' reason (like owner move-in or taking the unit off the market), they must give the tenant relocation help equal to one month's rent — usually a direct payment or a waiver of the final month's rent.
Cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, and Santa Monica have their own rent-control ordinances with far lower caps than AB 1482 (sometimes 1–4%). Where a local ordinance applies, it controls.
For an increase of 10% or less within 12 months, the landlord must give 30 days' written notice. For an increase over 10%, 90 days' written notice is required. (AB 1482 limits how much, separately from these notice rules.)
For covered units, annual rent increases are capped at 5% plus the regional inflation rate (CPI), but never more than 10% total in 12 months. The exact cap changes every August and varies by region — for Aug 2025–Jul 2026 it runs roughly 6%–9% depending on the metro area.
AB 1482 covers most apartments older than 15 years. Common exemptions include single-family homes and condos owned by individuals (not corporations) when proper notice is given, and buildings issued a certificate of occupancy within the last 15 years.
A landlord may charge an application screening fee, but it is capped by law (an inflation-adjusted amount, around $62–$65) and can only cover the actual cost of the screening plus reasonable time. The landlord must give a receipt and a copy of any credit report on request.
If you deny an applicant or charge more based on a credit or background report, federal law (FCRA) requires you to give an 'adverse action' notice telling them which agency provided the report and that they can dispute it. Apply the same criteria to everyone.
A late fee must be a reasonable estimate of the actual costs the landlord incurs from a late payment — it cannot be an arbitrary penalty. Unreasonably high or 'penalty' late fees are unenforceable.
California requires landlords to disclose several things in or with the lease, including lead-based paint (pre-1978 buildings), known mold, the Megan's Law database notice, bed-bug information, flood-hazard status, and (where applicable) AB 1482 coverage or exemption language.
Under AB 628, for any lease entered into, amended, or extended on or after January 1, 2026, a dwelling is not legally 'tenantable' unless it includes a working stove and refrigerator (with limited statutory exceptions).
Every California rental comes with an 'implied warranty of habitability.' Landlords must keep the unit livable: working plumbing, hot and cold water, heat, electricity, weatherproofing, safe and sanitary conditions, working locks, and no serious pest infestations.
It is illegal to refuse to rent, set different terms, or harass a person based on a protected characteristic — including race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, disability, age, and source of income.
Since 2020, 'source of income' is a protected class in California. A landlord generally cannot refuse to rent to someone just because they would pay with a Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher or other lawful, verifiable income.