California Rental Glossary 2025

Understanding landlord-tenant vocabulary is the first step to enforcing your rights. This California rental glossary 2025 compiles plain-English definitions of legal jargon and everyday phrases you’ll meet in applications, leases, and court papers. Whether you’re checking a “joint and several” clause or calculating “prorated rent,” use this page as your quick reference and jump deeper with the linked guides.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Abandonment Procedure
California law lets landlords retake possession after a tenant leaves without notice. Under Civil Code §1951.2, owners must follow a 15-day notice and inventory process. If you receive one, see our moving-out guide.
Actual Damages
Real, measurable money loss awarded by courts—e.g., lost wages after an illegal lockout. Proof such as receipts and timecards matters more than estimates.
Anti-Retaliation
Civil Code §1942.5 bans landlords from raising rent or issuing eviction within 180 days after you assert a right. If threatened, visit our retaliation page.

Bedbug Addendum
Since 2020, landlords must provide a bedbug disclosure explaining inspection rights. Tenants must report sightings promptly to avoid liability.
Breach of Covenant
Violation of a lease promise, such as unauthorized pets. Serious breaches can trigger a 3-Day Cure or Quit notice under CCP §1161.
Break Lease Fee
Contractual penalty for early move-out. California caps such fees at the actual cost of re-renting, not months of rent windfall.

Cash-for-Keys
Voluntary move-out deal where landlord pays tenants to leave. Get amounts and terms in writing to avoid later disputes.
Constructive Eviction
When a home becomes uninhabitable—no heat, severe mold—forcing tenants to leave. Tenants may move and stop rent after written notice.
Credit Screening Fee
Application fee covering background checks. California caps it at $65 in and landlords must give a receipt.

Damage Deduction
Amounts withheld from the security deposit for repairs beyond normal wear. Landlords must supply receipts for items over $125.
Always keep receipts; courts may reject estimates.
Discrimination
Unequal treatment based on protected trait. File complaints with the Civil Rights Department for free—details on our discrimination guide.
Domestic Violence Protections
Victims may change locks or break lease with 14-day notice when proper documentation is given (Civ Code §1946.7).

Early Termination Clause
Lease clause describing costs to end tenancy before term. Must be reasonable and cannot waive statutory protections.
Ellis Act Eviction
Allows landlords to remove units from rental market, mainly in rent-controlled cities. Tenants get 120-day notice; seniors/disabled receive one year.
Entry Notice
24-hour written notice required before a landlord enters, except emergencies (Civ Code §1954).

Fair Housing Act
Federal law banning housing discrimination. California offers broader coverage via Gov Code §12955.
Fixed-Term Lease
Rental agreement with set end date. Early exit often triggers liquidated damages unless mitigated.
Forfeiture
Loss of legal right—e.g., deposit forfeiture—due to breach. Courts scrutinize if clauses are unconscionable.

Grace Period
Extra days a landlord allows for rent before late fees. Not mandated by law; check your lease.
Gross Rent
Total payment including utilities or fees. Important for AB 1482 rent-cap calculations.
Guarantor
Third party promising to cover rent if tenant defaults. Must sign separate agreement to be liable.

Habitability Standards
Minimum health and safety conditions under Civ Code §1941.1. Learn more in our habitability guide.
Holdover Tenant
Tenant staying after lease ends. Landlord may accept rent (creating month-to-month) or start eviction for unlawful detainer.
Housing Services
Amenities such as parking or laundry included in rent. Removing them may be considered a reduction in services under rent control.

Implied Warranty
Automatic legal promise that rental is fit to live. Tenants cannot waive this right.
Interest on Deposits
Only certain cities—LA, SF, Berkeley—require annual interest. Use our future calculator to compute amounts.
Initial Inspection
48-hour pre-move-out walkthrough offered by landlord. Exercise your inspection right to fix issues cheaply.

Joint and Several Liability
Each co-tenant is responsible for full rent and damages. Landlord may sue one tenant for entire amount.
Just Cause
Legally valid reason to evict after 12 months (AB 1482). Examples: non-payment, breach, owner move-in.
Judgment for Possession
Court order returning unit to landlord after eviction. Sheriff lockout follows within days.

Key Deposit
Separate amount charged for keys or FOBs, still counts toward the statutory deposit cap.
Kitchen Privileges
Rights often granted to lodgers; must be spelled out to avoid disputes.
Keep Quiet Clause
Lease rule reinforcing “quiet enjoyment.” Excessive noise can be a material breach.

Late Fee
Penalty for overdue rent. Must be reasonable estimate of cost and stated in lease.
Lease Addendum
Extra document modifying original lease—e.g., pet addendum. Must be signed by all parties.
Local Rent Control
City ordinances that cap rents. Check your jurisdiction via our ordinance lookup.

Mitigate Damages
Landlords must try to re-rent after early vacancy before charging remaining rent per Civ Code §1951.2.
Month-to-Month Tenancy
Renews automatically; requires 30-day notice to terminate (60 days after 1 year).
Mold Disclosure
Landlords must disclose known mold per Health & Safety Code §26147.

Notice to Cure
3-Day notice demanding tenant fix a breach. Failure leads to eviction filing.
Normal Wear and Tear
Minor deterioration from ordinary use—cannot be deducted from deposit.
No-Fault Eviction
Termination for reasons unrelated to tenant breach—owner move-in, withdrawal—requires relocation payments in rent-controlled cities.

Owner Move-In
Landlord evicts to occupy unit personally. Rules vary; LA requires occupancy for 3 years minimum.
Ordinance
Local law supplementing state statutes. Overrides lease terms if more protective.
Option to Renew
Lease provision giving tenant priority to extend. Must exercise within stated window.

Prorated Rent
Amount covering partial month based on daily rate. Calculate by dividing monthly rent by days in month, then multiplying by days of occupancy.
Pet Deposit
Extra money for animal-related damage but counts toward 2×/3× cap. Abuse of “pet rent” may violate AB 1482 limits.
Pay or Quit
3-Day notice demanding overdue rent; cures by full payment during the notice window.

Quiet Enjoyment
Right to undisturbed use of home. Repeated, unannounced entries violate this covenant.
Qualified Applicant
Term in rent-controlled cities giving tenants priority for new leases after Ellis withdrawals.
Quid Pro Quo Harassment
Demanding sexual favors for housing benefits. Illegal under fair-housing laws; victims can sue for civil penalties.

Rent Cap
AB 1482 limits annual increases to 5% plus CPI (max 10%). See rent-increase guide.
Repair and Deduct
Tenant fixes hazard and subtracts cost from rent after written notice and wait period (Civ Code §1942).
Relocation Assistance
Payment owed during certain no-fault evictions. Amount depends on city ordinances.

Security Deposit
Money held for damages and unpaid rent, limited to 2×/3× rent. Full rules in deposit guide.
Service Animal
Assistance animal exempt from pet fees under FHA. Landlords may request two reasonable inquiries, not certification.
Sublet Agreement
Contract letting original tenant rent part or all of unit to a subtenant. Requires landlord consent unless lease says otherwise.

Tenant Screening Report
Compilation of credit, eviction, and sometimes criminal data used to approve applicants. You’re entitled to copy on request.
Three-Day Notice
Statutory notice for rent or lease breach. Weekends and holidays count for CCP §1161 notices.
Termination Date
Last day tenancy exists. Important for starting 21-day deposit refund clock.

Uninhabitable Conditions
Serious defects that violate habitability standards—no heat, sewage leaks. Tenants may withhold rent after proper notice.
Unlawful Detainer
Formal eviction lawsuit. Average timeline is 45-60 days if contested.
Utilities
Services like water, gas, electricity. Lease must state who pays; utility shutoffs as “self-help” eviction incur penalties.

Verbal Lease
Oral rental agreement. Enforceable month-to-month but harder to prove in disputes.
Visitor Policy
Rules about guests’ stay length. Excessive overnight guests may be deemed unauthorized occupants.
Voucher Discrimination
Refusal to accept Section 8 or VASH vouchers. Illegal under Gov Code §12955(p).

Waiver of Habitability
Clause trying to give up habitability rights. Void as against public policy.
Warranty of Habitability
Legal guarantee of safe dwelling—non-waivable. See habitability page.
Waterbed Addendum
Lease attachment regulating waterbeds; may require insurance and increased deposit within statutory caps.

Xeriscape Maintenance
Landscaping practice using low-water plants. Tenants in single-family homes may bear upkeep per lease.
X-Tenancy
Colloquial for cross-tenancy where roommates sub-lease rooms to each other; relies on strong written agreements.
eXpedited Jury Trial
Faster civil trial option sometimes used in damages cases under $25k, including housing disputes.

Yielding Clause
Lease term requiring surrender of unit in good condition minus wear. Forms basis for deposit deductions.
Year-to-Year Lease
Rare fixed-term renewal every 12 months; termination needs 60-day notice.
Youth Host Exception
Certain city ordinances exempt hostels from standard rental rules; check local code.

Zoning Compliance
Rental must match zoning use. Illegal conversions risk eviction and relocation payments.
Zero-Balance Ledger
Accounting showing all charges and payments settled—useful when disputing deposit deductions.
Zero Rent Increase
When AB 1482 CPI index is negative, landlords may raise rent 0% that year.

Related Resources

Tenant Rights Overview

Big-picture look at every renter protection.
Security Deposit Rules

Limits, deductions, and 21-day refund guide.
Notice Requirements

Timelines for 3-, 30-, and 60-day notices.
Habitability Standards

What makes a home legally livable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. A “notice to quit” usually refers to the 3-Day Pay or Quit issued for unpaid rent, governed by CCP §1161(2). A “notice to vacate” often terminates a month-to-month tenancy (30 or 60 days) without alleging breach. Both start critical timelines, but only the quit notice can lead directly to an unlawful detainer if the tenant fails to act. Review the glossary terms Pay or Quit and Termination Date for details.

Statewide AB 1482 sets a floor of protections: after 12 months, landlords need one of several “just causes” to terminate. Local ordinances—Los Angeles RSO, Berkeley Rent Stabilization, etc.—may add stricter rules or higher relocation fees. The stricter standard always prevails. For instance, LA requires a reason even during the first year for many units. See glossary term Just Cause and our rent-control guide.

An “at-will” tenancy has no fixed term and can in theory be ended by either party at any time. In practice, California treats most at-will setups like month-to-month. Thus, tenants generally owe 30-day written notice to leave, and landlords must serve 30/60-day notices unless local just-cause rules demand more. Check glossary term Month-to-Month Tenancy for concrete timelines.

Yes, but it must be explicit. Some move-out agreements say “landlord waives all claims in exchange for early possession.” Courts will enforce a clear, written waiver. Absent such language, Civil Code §1950.5 controls, letting owners deduct for damage or unpaid rent. Learn more in the definitions for Security Deposit and Damage Deduction.

Last reviewed: June 2025