Renting a Home in California: A Tenant's Checklist
Deposits, lease terms, rent caps and move-in inspections. What tenants should know before signing a lease on a house.
Renting a house rather than an apartment gives you more space and privacy, but the lease is often written by an individual owner rather than a large management company, and terms vary a lot. A little care before you sign saves trouble later.
Before you apply
Most landlords will ask for proof of income (often two to three times the monthly rent), references from previous landlords, and permission to run a credit check. Have digital copies of your pay slips, identification and a short reference list ready, and you will be able to apply on the day you see a home you like.
Deposits
California law now limits security deposits for most residential leases to one month's rent, whether the home is furnished or not, with a limited exception for some small landlords. The landlord must return the deposit, minus any lawful deductions with an itemised statement, within 21 days of you moving out. Take photos at move-in and move-out to protect yourself.
Read the lease closely
- Length of the lease and what happens at the end: does it roll to month-to-month?
- Who pays for which utilities, gardening, pool service and repairs.
- Rules on pets, guests, subletting and changes such as painting.
- How and when the landlord may enter the home. California requires reasonable notice, usually 24 hours in writing.
- Any fees for late rent and how they are calculated.
Rent increases
Many California rentals fall under the state's rent cap, which limits annual increases to 5 percent plus local inflation, with a maximum of 10 percent. Some single-family homes are exempt if the lease includes the correct written notice. Some cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, have their own stricter rules. Ask whether the home is covered.
A good landlord will be happy to answer questions about the lease before you sign. Hesitation is useful information.
Move-in inspection
Walk through the house with the landlord or agent before you move your furniture in. Note every scratch, stain and fault on a written checklist, take dated photos, and ask both parties to sign it. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, look for leaks under sinks, and run the heating and air conditioning.
Our rental listings show the monthly rent, lease length and pet policy up front. If anything is unclear, ask through the enquiry form on the listing and the agent will reply within one working day.