Existing law regulates the hiring of real property and imposes various requirements on landlords relating to the application for, and leasing of, residential rental property. Existing law prohibits a landlord or its agent from charging a tenant a fee for serving, posting, or otherwise delivering a notice of termination of a hiring of residential property, as specified. Existing law also prohibits a landlord or its agent from charging a tenant any fee for payment by check for rent or security deposit, as provided.
This bill would require, for new residential tenancies beginning on or after January 1, 2026, that a tenant only be obligated to pay rent and prescribed fees or charges, including, among other things, a security deposit and rent stabilization fees charged to a landlord and passed on to the tenant, as specified.
The bill would require, for residential tenancies that began before January 1, 2026, that a tenant only be obligated to pay rent, the fees and charges described above, any fees or charges that were charged at the start of the tenancy, except as specified, and fees or charges for specified utilities, including the use of a ratio utility billing system, as defined, that meets specified criteria.
The bill would require, for residential tenancies that began before, or beginning on or after, January 1, 2026, if a tenant is given a discount on rent or fees or charges in exchange for signing a rental agreement, that the rental agreement clearly state specified information about the amount and timing of the discount. The bill would provide that its provisions do not prevent a tenant from being charged for individually metered utilities if the rental agreement meets prescribed requirements. The bill would also require that any payment received from, or on behalf of, a tenant be applied to rent, rental debt, and any outstanding fees in a specified order, and would prohibit late fees from being charged to a tenant whose only delinquency is attributable to nonpayment or late payment of a late fee. The bill would specify that a decrease in housing services, as defined, is an increase in rent.
The bill would provide that a landlord or landlord's agent who violates these provisions is liable to a tenant in a civil action for damages, including treble damages. The bill would provide that its provisions do not prevent a landlord from recovering damages otherwise permitted by law. The bill would establish a 4-year statute of limitations to bring an action under these provisions.
The bill would provide that a waiver of its provisions is contrary to public policy and void, that the bill's provisions do not preempt a local government from imposing additional requirements upon a landlord or providing greater protection to tenants, and that its provisions are severable.

Statutes affected:
AB 1248: 1946.1 CIV
02/21/25 - Introduced: 1946.1 CIV
03/24/25 - Amended Assembly: 1946.1 CIV