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New Laws California Renters and Landlords Need to Know in 2025

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A 'Now Renting' sign on an apartment building on Market Street in San Francisco on Dec. 6, 2020. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)

Sixty new housing laws will go into effect in California this year, including several that apply to renters and landlords, placing new rules on evictions, security deposits and “junk fees.”

And while tenant advocates welcome the changes, they’re warning that renters need to be aware of their rights in order for the laws to be truly effective.

“There is a huge power imbalance between landlords and tenants statewide,” said Sam Beckett, directing attorney for tenants’ rights at Centro Legal de la Raza, an East Bay nonprofit. “These laws represent important, significant developments toward counteracting that imbalance and preventing the exploitation of tenants.”

In an effort to protect tenants while also sparing small landlords from extra costs, many of the laws target landlords who own multiple properties and include exceptions for those who own fewer than 15 units. But Debra Carlton, executive vice president for state and government affairs for the California Apartment Association, said more regulations often mean more expenses for landlords.

“The more regulations you place on the rental housing industry,” she said, “the more landlords exit.”

Keep reading for some of the 2025 laws that impact renters and landlords:

Credit reporting

Credit scores can play a big role in whether a prospective tenant gets accepted for an apartment. However, it can be hard to build good credit without a long credit history and consistent payment of debts, among other factors.

AB 2724, which goes into effect in April, aims to give tenants the opportunity to build their credit scores by allowing them the option of reporting their rent payments to a credit reporting agency. Landlords are now required to report the payments for tenants who opt in but are also allowed to pass on any related costs to the tenant. The law only applies to landlords who rent out more than 15 units.

“We always work to exempt small landlords, and we were successful with that one,” Carlton said. “We try, number one, to make it so that it’s at least beneficial by way of the tenant and doesn’t cost the owner any more money.”

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Eviction notices

Starting this month, if a tenant receives an eviction notice, they now have 10 days to respond, as opposed to five days, thanks to AB 2347.

In an effort to protect landlords from lengthy and costly court proceedings, the new law also requires the tenant’s lawyer to file certain motions by the day before the court hearing.

Security deposits

Sometimes, when a tenant moves out of their apartment, their landlord will hold onto a security deposit to pay for professional cleaning services and even to cover normal wear-and-tear. AB 2801, which goes into effect in April, prohibits landlords from keeping security deposits to pay for professional cleaning or other maintenance services, unless it’s necessary to repair significant damage to the unit.

Betty Gabaldon, an organizer with tenants’ rights group East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy, welcomes the change. When she recently left an apartment after five years, she said her landlord refused to return her security deposit and told her she would also have to pay for professional carpet cleaning and new paint for the walls.

Gabaldon protested and eventually got her deposit back. AB 2801 would tighten the rules around when landlords can keep security deposits and could prevent renters like Gabaldon from having to protest these kinds of charges after moving out. However, she warns, tenants still need to be aware of their rights and ready to hold their landlords accountable. She noted some renters might hesitate out of fear of retaliation or dealing with the sometimes laborious process of contesting a charge.

“I was lucky that I sent the letter, and I was able to exercise my rights, but not a lot of people are lucky,” Gabaldon said. “These laws are there, but people need to start exercising them for [the laws] to work.”

When the California Apartment Association first learned about this bill, Carlton said her organization was concerned that landlords would have little recourse if a tenant did destroy an apartment. The law specifies that property owners must take photographs and send an itemized statement along with a written explanation of the cost of repairs and cleaning.

“Take pictures of the unit, then take pictures when the tenant takes possession, and then take pictures of the unit when the tenant exits and when you’ve done [repair and cleaning] work,” she said — adding that such photos would be necessary if a landlord has to go to small claims court. “If [landlords] have to go to small claims court, they’re going to have to show them to the judge.”

Junk fees and application fees

Two new California laws follow promises from federal and state governments to crack down on junk fees — costs “that are mandatory but not transparently disclosed to consumers,” according to the White House. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission sued Invitation Homes, the country’s largest corporate landlord of single-family homes, for illegally charging tenants such fees.

SB 611 goes after “convenience” fees, pet fees, guest-related fees and others that landlords might charge, which are sometimes hidden from tenants until they look closely at their monthly bill. Starting in April, landlords now have to be transparent about the maximum amount of money a tenant could be charged for certain services.

AB 2493 regulates application or screening fees that landlords charge prospective tenants to cover the cost of background checks and other data collection.

The new law, already in effect, makes it clear that landlords can only charge screening fees to applicants who are being seriously considered, and they must refund the screening fee to anyone who didn’t get accepted. In an effort to prevent discrimination against applicants, landlords also have to accept the first qualified applicant who applies.

Carlton said she understands why tenants want to fight for their rights and why landlords want to fight against more regulation but that this tension might not exist if there was enough housing to match demand. Until that need is met, she said both tenants and landlords will make sure they are being treated fairly.

“I don’t think we’d see as many of these bills if we had enough housing for everybody,” she said. “I think that’s our biggest challenge.”

What other housing questions do you have for KQED?

Housing is one of the most crucial — and contentious — issues in the Bay Area, and here at KQED, we have a whole team dedicated to exploring stories about housing affordability.

As part of our work, we also want to bring you explainers and guides about housing in the region, offering practical advice and insight for renters, homeowners and unhoused folks on a wide range of housing situations. We also want you to send us your story ideas and tips, share your personal experience with housing in the Bay Area or volunteer to be one of the KQED readers and listeners we consult about housing stories.

So tell us: What housing question should we answer next?
You can use the comment box below to submit your question about housing in the Bay Area or California more widely. Or, maybe there’s a housing program you want explained or investigated. Whatever’s on your mind, use the Google Form below to talk to us. The information you provide here will be shared with the folks who work on KQED’s housing coverage, and we may follow up with you directly through the contact details you provide. (We’ll never share your information outside of KQED without your permission.) We won’t be able to reply to everyone who submits a question, but what you tell us will make our reporting stronger on KQED.org, KQED Public Radio and our social media channels.

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