Starting Jan. 1, 2024, California landlords will have the option to provide receipts for tenant screening fees via email, but only if both landlord and applicant agree to it first.
This change is a part of AB 1764, an “omnibus measure” created by the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law on Oct. 11.
At present, landlords are required to provide receipts for screening fees either personally or by mail. The new law amends Section 1950.6 of the Civil Code to add the option of emailing these receipts, provided there’s mutual agreement between the landlord and the applicant.
According to existing law, the application screening fee should not exceed the landlord’s actual out-of-pocket costs, which may include costs for tenant screening services or consumer credit reporting services. Learn about limits on screening fees here.
The California Apartment Association submitted the electronic receipt proposal to the Assembly Housing Committee for inclusion in AB 1764, recognizing its potential to simplify rental application processes and reduce physical paperwork. The language mimics the receipt requirements found in the security deposit law.
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