Residential rental properties: fees and security.

(1) Existing law regulates the hiring of real property and imposes various requirements on landlords relating to the application for, and leasing of, residential rental property. Existing law establishes provisions for the renewal or termination of a hiring of residential real property for an unspecified term. Existing law specifies the notice required for the termination of a hiring of residential property for an unspecified term. Existing law makes a tenant of real property guilty of unlawful detainer if, among other things, the tenant continues in possession of the real property after giving notice of termination of a hiring of residential property for an unspecified term. This bill would prohibit a landlord or its agent from charging a tenant a fee for serving, posting, or otherwise delivering any notice, as specified in the above-described provisions. (2) Existing law requires a landlord or landlord's agent to allow a tenant to pay rent and deposit of security by at least one form of payment that is neither cash nor electronic funds transfer, except as prescribed. This bill would prohibit a landlord or its agent from charging a tenant any fee for payment by check for rent or security deposit as described above. (3) Existing law prohibits a landlord from demanding or receiving security, however denominated, in an amount or value in excess of an amount equal to one month's rent, in addition to any rent for the first month paid on or before initial occupancy, except as provided. On or after April 1, 2025, if a landlord or agent charges a service member a higher than standard or advertised security as described above, this bill would require the landlord to provide the tenant with a written statement, on or before the date the lease is signed, of the amount of the higher security and an explanation why the higher security amount is being charged. The bill would require the additional amount of security to be returned to the tenant after no more than 6 months of residency if the tenant is not in arrears for any rent due during that period. (4) This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 1946.1 of the Civil Code proposed by SB 1103 to be operative only if this bill and SB 1103 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. (5) This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 1950.5 of the Civil Code proposed by AB 2801 to be operative only if this bill and AB 2801 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.