SAN DIEGO — In October 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed 890 bills into law with the vast majority set to go into effect on January 1.
With the new year only days away, renters here in California are about to receive a number of new legal protections.
One of the most significant centers around how much Californians will have to come up with for their security deposit which can often total several thousand dollars.
Assembly Bill 12 - Prohibits landlords from charging more than a month's rent on deposits
California, and San Diego in particular, have some of the highest rents in the entire nation. This translates to excessively high security deposits that would-be tenants have to come up with to secure an apartment. Assembly Bill 12 will cap that deposit at just one month's rent.
"I think it's an excellent idea," said Linda Vista resident Phyllis Sullivan. "People living in San Diego need help!"
With the average rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego now at $2,400, according to Zillow, that deposit can now range from $4,800 to $7,200 or even more, often depending on your credit score.
"Nobody has that big hunk of cash to lay down to get into an apartment usually," Sullivan added.
San Diego resident Anthony Hardhee is currently a renter, but would like to buy a home soon.
"People can't afford the current situation they're going through," he told CBS 8. "It's really hard, the economics and everything. I feel for a lot of people out there. I'm one of them... trying to find a new home. It's just tough. it's tough out there!"
Opposition to AB12
Many property owners are opposed to the new law. They argue that capping how much landlords can charge up front could lead to more rental housing being pulled from the market.
The California Apartment Association is one group that does not support the bill.
"Further limiting a property owner's ability to financially cover property damage or unpaid rent is an unfair imposition for rental housing providers."
Landlords that own only one or two properties, with a total of no more than four units, will be exempt from AB12.
Additional renter protections
AB12 isn't the only new law coming on board to help renters.
Under Assembly Bill 1418, landlords won't be able to evict tenants based on calls to law enforcement or suspected criminal activity.
In April when Assembly Bill 567 is enacted, property owners will have a harder time evicting tenants if the landlord or their family members wants to move in. Instead, the landlord or their family will have to move in within 90 days, and remain in the unit for at least 12 months.
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