Rules, guides, and articles for landlords

Security deposits, late fees, and notice requirements, state by state.

1. 01

   California rent control in 2026: every city with a rent stabilization ordinance

   California layers local rent control on top of the statewide AB 1482 cap. Here is every city LeaseRooster tracks with its own rent stabilization ordinance, the annual increase cap, and whether it requires just cause to evict. Civil Code § 1947.12 Reviewed Aug 2026
2. 02

   California Stove and Refrigerator Habitability Requirement (AB 628, 2026 update)

   AB 628 makes a working stove and refrigerator part of California's habitability standard, effective January 1, 2026. Here is what the law requires, the narrow refrigerator opt out, and what to check across your units before it becomes a compliance problem. Civil Code § 1941.1 3 min read Reviewed Jul 2026
3. 03

   California Landlord Obligations After a Wildfire or Disaster (SB 610, 2026 update)

   SB 610 sets out what California landlords owe tenants after a mandatory evacuation order or wildfire disaster, effective January 1, 2026: rent discharge, a 10-day prepaid rent refund, a habitability presumption for debris, and the right to return at pre-disaster rent. Civil Code § 1941.9 3 min read Reviewed Jul 2026
4. 04

   California Internet and Cable Bulk-Billing Opt Out (AB 1414, 2026 update)

   AB 1414 gives California tenants the right to opt out of a bundled internet, cable, or satellite charge, effective January 1, 2026. Here is what the law requires if you bulk bill a service to tenants, and what happens if you charge a tenant who opted out. Civil Code § 1942.8 3 min read Reviewed Jul 2026
5. 05

   How to Return a Security Deposit Electronically in California (AB 414, 2026 update)

   AB 414 requires California landlords to refund a security deposit electronically when the tenant paid electronically, effective January 1, 2026. Here is the rule, the multiple-tenant payout requirement, and what to change in your move-out process. Civil Code § 1950.5 3 min read Reviewed Jul 2026
6. 06

   California Security Deposit Rules: What AB 12 Changed

   AB 12 cut California's security deposit cap to one month's rent for most unfurnished rentals, effective July 1, 2024. Landlords must return the deposit within 21 days with an itemized statement. Here is what changed, what counts toward the cap, and how to stay on the right side of the law. Civil Code § 1950.5(c) 5 min read Reviewed Jun 2026
7. 07

   San Francisco Rent Control: Landlord's Guide

   San Francisco's Rent Ordinance covers most residential units first occupied before June 13, 1979. It caps annual rent increases and restricts evictions to 16 just-cause grounds. Landlords must register with the SF Rent Board and pay an annual fee. SF Admin. Code § 37.2(r) 5 min read Reviewed Jun 2026
8. 08

   Maximum Rent Increase in California 2026: AB 1482 Explained

   AB 1482 caps annual rent increases at 5% plus local CPI (maximum 10%). Single-family homes, condos, and new construction are often exempt, but only with the right written notice. How the formula works, the current 2026 cap by region, and the sunset status. Civil Code § 1947.12 6 min read Reviewed Jul 2026

All jurisdiction pages

1. 01

   Is free landlord software actually free?

   The honest answer to whether free landlord software is really free, and what it actually costs your tenant. Guide 3 min read Jul 23, 2026
2. 02

   How much does landlord software cost in 2026?

   A landlord's honest breakdown of what rental property software actually costs in 2026, including the hidden fees most pricing pages don't mention. Guide 5 min read Jul 23, 2026
3. 03

   How to do a move-in inspection (and why it pays for itself)

   A documented move-in walk-through is the single best protection against deposit disputes later. Here's the simple checklist. Guide 8 min read Jun 18, 2026
4. 04

   How to screen a tenant the right way

   A practical, fair-housing-safe way to screen rental applicants, from the application to the decision, without stepping on the law. Guide 6 min read Jun 18, 2026

All guides

1. 01

   Welcome to LeaseRooster

   We're building property-management software for the long tail of US rental housing: independent owners and small-to-mid landlords who self-manage. Here's what we're trying to do. Behind LeaseRooster Jun 18, 2026

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