In giving legislative updates to the Santa Monica Rent Control Board, legislative advocate Brian Augusta stated that application fees are a barrier that renters face “almost everywhere they go,” paying the fees despite typically not being picked for a unit. AB 2493 remedies this, as fees will be returned to any applicant not selected to an occupancy.

Also signed by Newsom, AB 2801 changes security deposit regulation to require the landlord to provide photographic evidence of necessary repairs and proof they were completed.

Read More: https://smdp.com/2024/10/16/bills-passed-protecting-renters-on-screening-fees-security-deposits/