Tenancy: additional rents and securities: common household pets.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide information on how it affects existing rental agreements before the effective date of January 1, 2027.

Rules for Renting with Pets

AB-2609 sets limits on how much extra rent and security deposit a landlord can charge tenants who have common household pets in their homes, starting from January 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

• Limits the amount of additional rent a landlord can charge for having a pet to no more than 1% of the monthly rental fee.
• Restricts the extra security deposit a landlord can ask for because of a pet to no more than 15% of one month’s rent.
• Applies these rules only to new or renewed rental agreements made on or after January 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

• Landlords who own residential properties
• Tenants with common household pets

Terms To Know

Common Household Pet

A pet that is typically kept as a companion in the home, such as dogs or cats.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens to existing rental agreements before January 1, 2027.
• It only applies to new and renewed rental agreements starting from January 1, 2027.

Official Summary Text

AB 2609, as amended, Caloza.
Mobilehomes.
Tenancy: additional rents and securities: common household pets.
Existing law, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, among other things, authorizes an owner of residential real property to establish initial and subsequent rental rates for a dwelling or unit that meets specified conditions, subject to certain exceptions. Existing law, until January 1, 2030, prohibits an owner of residential real property from, over the course of any 12-month period, increasing the gross rental rate, as specified, for a dwelling or a unit more than 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living, or 10%, whichever is lower, of the lowest gross rental rate charged for that dwelling or unit at any time during the 12 months before the effective date of the increase, subject to specified conditions.
This bill would prohibit an owner of residential
real property from charging a tenant additional rent in an amount in excess of 1% of the monthly rental amount due to the residence of a common household pet, as defined, in the dwelling unit.
Existing law imposes specified requirements on a security for a rental agreement for residential property. Existing law defines security as any payment, fee, deposit, or charge that is imposed, as specified, to reimburse the landlord for costs associated with processing a new tenant or that is imposed as an advance payment of rent, used for any purpose. Existing law prohibits a landlord from demanding or receive security in an amount or value in excess of an amount equal to one month’s rent, in addition to any rent for the first month paid on or before initial occupancy, except as provided.
This bill would prohibit a landlord charging a tenant an additional amount of security in excess of the amount equal to 15% of one month’s rent
due the residence of a common household pet in the premises.
This bill would apply these provisions only to a rental agreement entered into or extended on or after January 1, 2027.
Existing law, the Mobilehome Residency Law, governs the terms and conditions of tenancy in mobilehome parks.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the title of that law.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF