New California Law Bans Certain Landlord Fees Starting April 1

Starting April 1, California landlords will no longer be allowed to charge tenants for certain fees under a new law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Senate Bill 611 prohibits landlords from charging fees for serving notices related to lease terminations. Additionally, tenants will not have to pay fees for paying rent or security deposits by check.

The law also limits security deposits to one month’s rent unless specific conditions are met. If a military service member is charged a higher deposit due to poor credit or rental history, landlords must provide a written explanation.

Any excess deposit must be refunded within six months if the service member’s rent payments are up to date.

These changes are part of broader efforts to enhance tenant protections and transparency in California’s rental market.

Another law, Assembly Bill 2801, requires landlords to document rental units before and after tenancy to support any damage claims against security deposits.

However, landlords can still charge for significant repairs like broken doors or structural damage from water leaks.

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