California’s New Housing Laws In Effect July 2024

Photo credit: Call Matters

The new California housing laws coming into effect in July 2024 introduce significant changes aimed at protecting tenants and addressing housing affordability. Here's an overview of key legislations and their implications:

1. Security Deposits: Legislation caps security deposits at one month's rent for both furnished and unfurnished units, with a provision allowing owners of no more than two rental properties to request up to two months' rent. This move is designed to make housing more accessible by lowering upfront costs for renters.

2. Tenant Protections: The laws enhance tenant protections against eviction and discrimination. Landlords are required to provide just cause for evictions, such as failure to pay rent or lease violations, and face stricter limits on evicting tenants to move in or renovate the unit. Furthermore, tenants now have rights against landlord harassment, ensuring a quiet and peaceful enjoyment of their rental property.

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3. Micromobility Devices: Tenants can store micromobility devices, like e-bikes and e-scooters, in their units if the batteries meet safety standards. This provision accommodates the growing use of personal transport devices in urban areas.

4. Costa-Hawkins Amendment: This amendment allows tenants with mobility-related disabilities to request a move to a more accessible unit within the same building without a rent increase, provided certain conditions are met. This law aims to improve the living conditions for tenants with disabilities.

5. Credit History and Rental Subsidies: Landlords are prohibited from using a person's credit history as a basis for rental application denial if the applicant has a government rental subsidy. This change is intended to prevent discrimination against tenants with less traditional means of establishing creditworthiness.

These laws are part of California's broader efforts to address housing issues and protect tenant rights. They reflect a legislative balance between the interests of property owners and renters, aiming to make the rental landscape more equitable and accessible.

For more detailed information on each of these points, it's beneficial to consult the original sources: the California Apartment Association's overview of new rental housing laws for 2024 and Martinez Law Center's analysis of the key changes and implications of new rental laws in California for 2024.