Residential Landlord Tenant

Residential Landlord-Tenant Law ## Overview California has some of the most tenant-protective landlord-tenant laws in the United States. For real estate brokers — especially those involved in property management or residential leasing — mastery of these laws is essential to avoid liability and serve clients effectively. This section covers the major statutes and regulations that shape residential tenancies in California. --- ## AB 1482 — The Tenant Protection Act of 2019 AB 1482 (effective January 1, 2020) created the first statewide rent cap and just cause eviction requirement in California. Its two main components are: ### Rent Cap Rent increases for covered units are limited to the lesser of: - 5% + the local CPI (Consumer Price Index) change, OR - 10% maximum in any 12-month period The CPI component is calculated based on the April-to-April CPI for the region where the property is located. In high-inflation years, the CPI component can be significant, but the 10% ceiling is absolute. Important mechanics: - Landlords may not "bank" unused increases (can't skip a year and then double-increase later) - The 10% cap applies even if the landlord makes multiple rent increases in a 12-month period — total increases cannot exceed the cap - Increases below the cap are not a right — landlords must still comply with notice requirements (10-day written notice for ≤10% increase; 30-day notice for >10% in non-AB-1482 situations, but for covered units the cap prevents >10% anyway) ### Properties Covered by AB 1482 The rent cap and just cause eviction requirements apply to multi-unit buildings that are at least 15 years old at the time of the proposed rent increase. This means: - A building built…