How long does a landlord have to return deposit in CA?

within 21 days
Under California law, a landlord must return the renter’s security deposit, with an itemized statement of deductions, within 21 days after the renter has surrendered the rental property to the landlord (that is, returned the keys and vacated the property).

When does a landlord have to send a good faith estimate?

If the repairs cannot be finished within the 21-day period, the landlord can send the tenant a good faith estimate of the cost of repairs. Then within 14 days of the repairs being done, the landlord must send the tenant the receipts.

What happens if a landlord does not return a security deposit in California?

If a landlord in California does not return the security deposit within 21 days from the move out date, the landlord may be liable for a penalty of 2 times the security deposit on top of the amount withheld. That means the landlord may be made to pay up to 3 times the security deposit.

What should I do if my landlord won’t return my property?

Ask the landlord to review the home with you and make a note of any damages and its current state of cleanliness. Take pictures of anything you find, or even take a video as you walk through the home. You could add notes to the lease about specific damages and ask the landlord to agree with your assessment before signing the lease.

Can a tenant sue a landlord in California?

No matter how carefully you followed California security deposit laws, and properly account to your tenants for their deposits, you may be sued by a tenant who disagrees with your deductions, or claims that you failed to return the deposit when and how required.

Can a landlord refund a good faith deposit?

If the prospective tenant is the one who explicitly backs out on the decision to rent, then the prospective landlord has the right to keep the full Good Faith Deposit. If it’s clearly the prospective landlord who changes his mind about renting to the prospective tenant, he must refund the full Good Faith Deposit.

After a tenant moves out, a landlord has 21 days to: Copies of receipts for the charges/deductions, unless repairs cost less than $126 or the tenant waived (gave up) his or her right to get the receipts. If the repairs cannot be finished within the 21-day period, the landlord can send the tenant a good faith estimate of the cost of repairs.

Do you have to put down a good faith deposit?

Good Faith Deposit (a.k.a. Booking Deposit) goes hand-in-hand with the tenant’s Letter of Intent (LOI) to the prospective landlord. While writing an LOI and putting down a Good Faith Deposit are not obligatory in the rental process, it’s a good (and common) practice.