Landlords can charge potential renters a screening or application charge, however there are limitations to just how much. Prospective tenants need to get a copy of their credit report if the proprietor obtained one, an invoice showing the expense of the screening, and a refund of any unused portion of the cost. For additional information, including the current screening cost limitation, see our Tenant Screening Fees page.

Make certain you can pay for the rent
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Signing a fixed-term lease may obligate you to pay the lease for the whole term, unless there is a truly excellent factor to leave, like significant habitability issues. If you vacate before the lease ends, you might be held accountable for paying lease if the owner can not re-rent the unit before the lease period expires. See our Lease Breaking page for additional information.

Check if the unit has securities under the Rent Ordinance

Most rental systems in Berkeley are either fully or partly covered by the Rent Ordinance, however some systems are entirely exempt from any protections. It's crucial to understand what rights you'll have as a tenant. Check our Is Your Unit Covered by Rent Control? page for information about protections and numerous exemptions for different kinds of systems. You can likewise call us to ask about a specific system.

Understand the regards to the lease before signing

It is essential to plainly understand what you are consenting to before accepting the regards to a lease. While sometimes only the landlord can clarify what a proposed lease term indicates, we can assist identify issues so that you are able to ask the best concerns. Common concerns are:

Last month's rent: Ask the landlord if the last month's rent will be applied. Be clear on what the landlord's intentions are with all money collected (beyond the very first month's lease) at the start of an occupancy. If you have a composed lease, this should be plainly defined.

Discounted rent: For units with lease control, decreased, complimentary, or marked down lease must be factored into the base rent ceiling for a new occupancy. For instance, if a landlord and occupant consent to a lease of $2,000 each month for a new occupancy with a 12-month term, but the tenant receives one month of totally free lease, the base lease ceiling for the system would be $1,833.33, which is the average of the regular monthly rent payments made for the initial lease term ($ 22,000/ 12 months). In this example, beginning the month following the expiration of the preliminary lease term, the optimum lease the property manager could charge would be $1,833.33.

Spending for energies: For tenancies that began on or after February 6, 2024, a proprietor might charge an occupant in a totally covered system for energies only if either: the cost of the energies becomes part of the base lease, or the energy service is separately-metered and the lease requires the tenant to position the utility in the occupant's name. A landlord who is charging a tenant for utilities independently from lease on or after February 6, 2024, might submit a petition with the Rent Board to add the typical expense of energies to the lease ceiling. Rent ceiling increases should be made through the petition procedure, however the celebrations can ask to waive the hearing if they agree on the boost, and the contract and evidence submitted with the petition satisfy particular standards. See our Rent Adjustment Petitions page for information.

Get a signed, composed copy of your lease and invoices for all payments

California law needs your landlord to offer you a copy of your lease, so you should request a copy of the property owner hasn't provided you one. It's also essential to get receipts for any payments that you make, particularly if you pay in money.

Notice of Tenant Rights

For occupancies that began on or after December 20, 2024, within fifteen days of the start of the occupancy, your landlord must offer you a written notice including the following information: The presence of and scope of the Rent Ordinance