California Tenants A guide to Residential Tenants' and ...

CALIFORNIA TENANTS

A GUIDE TO RESIDENTIAL TENANTS' AND LANDLORDS' RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

GAVIN NEWSOM Governor

LOURDES M. CASTRO RAM?REZ Secretary

Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency DOUGLAS R. McCAULEY Commissioner Department of Real Estate

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Official Publication of the California Department of Real Estate CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE

1651 EXPOSITION BOULEVARD, SACRAMENTO, CA 95815 WWW.DRE. (877) 373-4542

RE 26 (Rev. 02/01/22)

DISCLAIMER

California Tenants ? A Guide to Residential Tenants' and Landlords' Rights and Responsibilities was written initially by the Department of Consumer Affairs' Legal Affairs Division and substantially revised by the Department of Real Estate's Legal Section in 2020 and updated in late 2021 to reflect recent legislative activity during the past year. The Department of Real Estate's Communications and Publications Section was responsible for publishing the booklet. The opinions expressed in this booklet are those of the authors and should not be construed as representing the opinions or policy of any official or agency of the State of California. To ensure the document is useful for the vast majority of readers, the authors have endeavored to balance the competing objectives of providing accurate, current, and complete information of the law without overwhelming readers with nuanced detail and legalese. As a result, not every subject is addressed with the same level of detail. This booklet is intended for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. To the extent that readers have questions or need further guidance, readers should consult an attorney, legal aid society, landlord association, or tenant advocacy group for advice in particular cases, and should also read the relevant statutes and court decisions when relying on cited material.

Department of Real Estate Updated, 2022 Updated and reprinted, 2020

Department of Consumer Affairs Updated and reprinted, 2012 Updated and reprinted, 2010 Reprinted, 2008 Updated and reprinted, 2007 Updated and reprinted, 2006 Updated, 2004 Updated and reprinted, 2003 Reprinted, 2002 Updated and reprinted, 2001 Reprinted, 2000 First published, 1998

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION .........................................1

HOW TO USE THIS BOOKLET .................2 Table of Contents ....................................2 Glossary ..................................................2

WHO IS A LANDLORD AND WHO IS A TENANT? ....................................................2

General Information About Landlords and Tenants ...................................................2 Special Situations....................................3

Hotels and motels ...............................4 Residential hotels................................4 Single lodger in a private residence ....5 Transitional housing ............................5 Mobilehome parks and recreational vehicle parks .......................................5 LOOKING FOR A RENTAL UNIT ..............6 Looking for and Inspecting Rental Units .6 Looking for a rental unit.......................6 Inspecting before you rent ..................7 The Rental Application .......................... 9 Criminal History................................. 9 Prepaid Rental Listing Services ........11 Other Rental Application Considerations ..................................13 Credit Checks........................................13 Application Screening Fee ....................15 Holding Deposit .....................................15 Unlawful Discrimination .........................16 What is unlawful discrimination?.......16 Limited exceptions for single rooms and roommates .................................18 Resolving housing discrimination problems ...........................................19 BEFORE YOU AGREE TO RENT ............21 Rental Agreements and Leases............21 General information...........................21 Oral and Written Agreements............21 Fixed Term and Periodic Tenancies .22 Shared Utility Meters .............................23

Translation of Proposed Rental Agreement........................................ 23 WHEN YOU HAVE DECIDED TO RENT 24 What the Rental Agreement Should Include .................................................. 24 Key terms ......................................... 25 Alterations to Accommodate a Tenant with a Disability................................. 27 Tenant's basic legal rights ................ 28 The duty of good faith and fair dealing .......................................................... 28 Landlord's Disclosures ......................... 29 Lead-based paint.............................. 29 Periodic pest control treatments....... 29 Bed Bugs .......................................... 29 Asbestos........................................... 29 Carcinogenic material....................... 30 Methamphetamine contamination .... 30 Demolition permit ............................. 30 Military base or explosives ............... 30 Death in the rental unit ..................... 30 Condominium conversion project..... 31 Flood Hazard .................................... 31 Megan's Law .................................... 31 Basic Rules Governing Security Deposits .............................................................. 31 The Inventory Checklist ........................ 34 Renter's Insurance ............................... 34 Limits to Rent Increases and Local Rent Stabilization Programs ......................... 35 LIVING IN THE RENTAL UNIT................ 37 Paying the Rent .................................... 37 When is rent due? ............................ 37 Check, money order, electronic funds transfer, or cash? ............................. 38 Obtaining receipts for rent payments 39 Late fees and dishonored check fees .......................................................... 39 Partial rent payments ....................... 40 Security Deposit Increases................... 40 Rent Increases ..................................... 41 How much can rent be raised?......... 41

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