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A California standard residential lease agreement is a document that property managers and landlords can use to define the terms and conditions for leasing their residential property to a tenant. The agreement should clearly identify the address of the property being rented, the names of each tenant, as well as that of any additional occupants. Before signing the lease, tenants should review the financial commitment expected of them to ensure that their income can sustain the monthly rent, utility expenses, security deposit, and any additional fees assigned in the agreement.
Rental Laws – CIV §§ 1940 – 1954.05
Handbook (Guide) – Guide to Residential Tenants’ and Landlords’ Rights
Contents |
Security Deposits
Maximum (§ 1950.5(c)) – Two (2) Months’ Rent Unfurnished | Three (3) Months’ Rent Furnished
Returning (§ 1950.5(g)(1)) – Twenty-One (21) Days
When is Rent Due?
Tenants must pay rent on the date defined in the rental agreement when the term is for one (1) year or less. If the agreement does not specify a rental due date, rent must be paid at the end of the month (§ 1947).
Realtor Version
Residential Lease or Month-to-Month Rental Agreement (Form LR) – This residential lease has been approved by the California Association of Realtors® for realtors and other industry professionals.
Download: PDF
Disclosures (13) |
| 1) AB 1482 Just Cause Addendum
This addendum must be signed and attached to the lease if the property meets certain requirements and is not subject to the rent increase or just cause laws of the California Civil Code.
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| 2) Bedbug Disclosure
Landlords are obligated to provide tenants with written notice with general information and education about bed bugs.
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| 3) Demolition
Before accepting any deposits or the signature of a rental agreement, landlords must give written notice if they have applied for a permit to demolish a rental unit.
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| 4) Flood
The landlord must inform new tenants if the dwelling is located in a special flood hazard area.
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| 5) Just Cause
Unless the property meets the requirements in § 1946.2(f)(3) of the Civil Code, the Landlord is required to provide the following notice to the Tenant: California law limits the amount your rent can be increased. See Section 1947.12 of the Civil Code for more information. California law also provides that after all of the tenants have continuously and lawfully occupied the property for 12 months or more or at least one of the tenants has continuously and lawfully occupied the property for 24 months or more, a landlord must provide a statement of cause in any notice to terminate a tenancy. See Section 1946.2 of the Civil Code for more information. |
| 6) Lead-Based Paint Disclosure
The presence of toxic paint must be disclosed to all tenants if the property was built prior to 1978.
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| 7) Megan’s Law
Every lease and rental agreement must contain the written notice set forth in the statutes bellow notifying tenants that they have access to a registry of sex offenders in the area. |
| 8) Methamphetamine Contamination
Written notice must be provided to prospective tenants if the rental property has been contaminated with methamphetamine and if the property is subject to remediation. Additionally, a copy of the remediation order must be given to the tenant, and the tenant must state in writing they that have received a copy of this order.
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| 9) Ordnance Locations
If a landlord has knowledge of any former ordnance locations in the neighborhood of the rental unit, they must provide written notice to new tenants prior to the signature of the rental agreement.
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| 10) Pest Control
If periodic pest control services have been performed on a dwelling, the landlord must provide each new tenant a copy of the notice provided by the pest control company.
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| 11) Shared Utilities
Tenants must be notified if the unit has a shared gas or electrical meter, and the tenant must be informed how the cost will be allocated between parties.
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| 12) Smoking Policy
Should the landlord prohibit or limit smoking on the rental property, the rental agreement must describe the areas where smoking is prohibited.
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| 13) Toxic Mold
If the landlord has reason to believe that mold is present in the rental unit, and that mold exceeds California’s guidelines, then a written disclosure must be provided to all prospective and current tenants.
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