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AB-924 • 2026

Leases: termination of tenancy: abuse or violence: security deposit.

Leases: termination of tenancy: abuse or violence: security deposit.

Crime Housing
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Davies
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide details on how to calculate the share of the security deposit or what happens in case remaining tenants cannot pay their share on time.

Leases: Security Deposit Rules During Abuse or Violence

This law requires landlords to return a portion of the security deposit to tenants who leave due to abuse or violence by another tenant and mandates remaining tenants to cover the departing tenant's share within two weeks.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires landlords to pay a calculated share of the security deposit to tenants who terminate their lease because another tenant committed specified crimes, such as domestic violence or sexual assault.
  • Mandates remaining tenants on the lease to pay the departing tenant’s share of the security deposit to the landlord within 14 days after the landlord delivers payment to the tenant who left.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Tenants who leave their rental due to abuse or violence by another tenant.
  • Landlords managing properties with multiple tenants.
  • Remaining tenants on a lease when one leaves because of abuse or violence.

Terms To Know

Security deposit
Money paid by tenants to landlords at the start of a rental agreement, which can be returned at the end if there are no damages beyond normal wear and tear.
Joint and several liability
A legal term meaning that each person responsible for paying a debt is individually liable for the full amount, but also collectively responsible together with others.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how to calculate the share of the security deposit.
  • It's unclear what happens if remaining tenants cannot pay their share on time.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-03-03 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on JUD.

  4. 2025-02-20 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.

  5. 2025-02-19 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 924, as introduced, Davies.
Leases: termination of tenancy: abuse or violence: security deposit.
Existing law authorizes a tenant to provide a landlord with 180-day written notice, as specified, that the tenant, household member, or immediate family member, as defined, was a victim of an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, abuse of an elder or a dependent adult, or of other specified crimes, and that the tenant intends to terminate the tenancy. Existing law prohibits a landlord from, due to the termination, requiring a tenant who terminates a lease or rental agreement to forfeit any security deposit money or advance rent paid.
This bill would require a landlord to pay a calculated share of the security deposit, as provided, to the tenant who terminated tenancy according to the above-described provisions if there are multiple tenants on the lease and a tenant states in their written notice that they are
terminating tenancy because another tenant committed the specified crime. The bill would require any tenants remaining on the lease to pay the calculated share of the security deposit to the landlord no later than 14 days after the landlord delivers payment to the tenant who terminated tenancy, and would provide that the remaining tenants are jointly and severally liable for the calculated share of the security deposit.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF