In 2024, California landlords face several new laws and regulations that significantly impact residential property management. These changes cover a wide range of topics, including security deposits, tenant protections, and discrimination in tenant screening processes. Here's a summary of the top search topics for residential home landlords in California based on the latest legislative updates:
Security Deposit Cap: Assembly Bill 12 limits security deposits to one month's rent for both furnished and unfurnished residential properties, effective July 1, 2024. This law aims to make move-in costs more affordable for renters.
Protection Against Illegal Occupancy: Senate Bill 602, effective from January 1, 2024, strengthens property owners' rights to combat trespassing and squatting by extending the validity of a trespass letter to a full 12 months. This amendment allows for easier removal of illegal occupants by law enforcement without needing court eviction.
Discrimination in Tenant Screening: Senate Bill 267, taking effect on January 1, 2024, prohibits landlords from using a potential tenant’s credit history as a basis for rental decisions if the applicant is receiving a government rental subsidy. Instead, landlords must allow applicants to provide alternative proof of their ability to pay their portion of the rent.
Electronic Screening Receipts: Assembly Bill 1764, effective January 1, 2024, modernizes tenant screening by allowing landlords to provide receipts for tenant screening fees via email, with mutual agreement from the applicant. This update facilitates a more streamlined application process.
Personal Micromobility Storage: Senate Bill 712, also effective from January 1, 2024, ensures tenants' rights to own and store personal micromobility devices, like bicycles and e-scooters, within their dwelling units, subject to safety and insurance conditions.
Changes to the Tenant Protection Act of 2019: Senate Bill 567 adds new requirements for "no-fault" evictions (e.g., owner move-in or substantial remodeling) and introduces stricter penalties for landlords who violate these terms. This law will be effective from April 1, 2024.
Disabled Tenant Transfers: Assembly Bill 1620, effective January 1, 2024, allows tenants with a permanent physical disability in rent-controlled units to relocate to a more accessible unit within the same building without a rent increase, under certain conditions.
Housing Production Laws: Several bills, such as SB 4, SB 423, and SB 684, aim to increase housing supply by facilitating the development of affordable housing on land owned by religious institutions and nonprofits, extending the provisions of laws that expedite the approval process for certain housing projects, and streamlining the process for small, infill apartment buildings.
These legislative changes reflect California's ongoing efforts to address the housing crisis, improve tenant protections, and ensure fairness and accessibility in the rental market. Landlords should familiarize themselves with these new regulations to ensure compliance and effectively manage their rental properties in 2024.
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