New 2025 laws for the residential housing industry
Tenant screening
This law provides that landlords or their agents may charge a potential tenant an application screening fee only if the landlord or their agent, at the time the application screening fee is collected, accepts applications in the order in which the completed applications are received and approves the first applicant to meet the landlord’s established screening criteria. It also requires that the landlord’s screening criteria be provided to the applicant in writing together with the application at the time the application is requested.
Security deposits
This law provides that a landlord who collects a security deposit must take photographs of the unit:
Immediately before, or at the start of the tenancy.
Within a reasonable time after the unit is returned to the landlord, but prior to any repairs or cleaning for which the landlord will make a deduction from the security deposit.
Within a reasonable time after repairs or cleaning are completed.
The landlord must provide these photographs to the departing tenant. Beginning April 1, 2025, the landlord must take photographs of the unit within a reasonable time after the possession of the unit is returned to the landlord. For tenancies that begin on or after July 1, 2025, the landlord must take photographs of the unit immediately before, or at the start of, the tenancy.
Rent reporting – market rate housing
This law requires a residential rental property owner to offer tenants the option of having their positive rental payment information reported to at least one nationwide consumer reporting agency. For leases entered into on and after April 1, 2025, the offer of reporting positive rental payment information must be made at the time of the lease agreement and at least once annually thereafter. For existing leases, as of Jan. 1, 2025, the offer of positive rental payment information reporting must be made no later than April 1, 2025, and at least once annually thereafter.
Owners may charge tenants a fee to cover actual costs, not to exceed $10 each month, to pay for the cost of reporting the positive rent payments. This law does not apply to the following:
The owner of a residential rental building that contains 15 or fewer dwelling units, unless both of the following apply:
The landlord owns more than one residential rental building, regardless of the number of units in each building.
The landlord is one of the following:
A real estate investment trust, as defined.
A corporation.
A limited liability company in which at least one member is a corporation.
Fees and notices
This law prohibits landlords and their agents from charging a tenant any fee for payment by check for rent or a security deposit. It also prohibits landlords and their agents from charging a tenant a fee for serving, posting, or delivering any notice, as described.
Domestic violence
This law requires landlords to change the locks for a tenant, at the landlord’s own expense, within 24 hours of being provided information that a tenant or a member of the tenant’s household has been a victim of abuse or violence. If the landlord fails to change the locks, the landlord must reimburse the tenant within 21 days if the tenant changes the locks. The tenant must notify the property owner within 24 hours that the locks have been changed and must provide the landlord with a key.
Eviction process
This law extends the requirement for a tenant to file an answer to an unlawful detainer complaint from five days to 10 days. It also shortens the time for a hearing on specific motions that have typically been used by tenant attorneys to delay an eviction for up to 35 additional days.
Balconies – inspection extension
This law extends by one year the deadline for property owners to perform balcony inspections and other exterior elevated elements in all buildings containing three or more multifamily dwelling units. The deadline is moved from Jan. 1, 2025, to Jan. 1, 2026.
Unless otherwise indicated, each of these laws will take effect Jan. 1, 2025. For a complete list of all bills signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, see CAA’s Legislative Chart.