Landlord and tenant: security deposit.

Existing law governs the duties of a landlord and the rights of a tenant with respect to demanding, holding, and returning the security for a rental agreement for residential real property, as specified. Existing law authorizes a court to award statutory damages of up to twice the amount of the security, in addition to actual damages, for the bad faith claim or retention by a landlord or the landlord's successors in interest of the security or any portion thereof in violation of these provisions of existing law, or the bad faith demand of replacement security in violation of existing law. This bill would instead require a court to award the above-described statutory damages for the bad faith claim or retention of security or the bad faith demand of replacement security by a landlord or the landlord's successor in interest. Absent bad faith, the bill would require an award of statutory damages of an amount equal to the amount improperly withheld, in addition to actual damages, for an unlawful claim or retention or demand of replacement security.