Department of Housing

Governor Newsom recently signed into law AB 12, which on July 1, 2024 will prohibit many landlords from charging more than one month’s rent as a security deposit for an apartment rental.  “This new law is especially important in San Mateo County where working families are hard pressed to save twice the amount of the average monthly rent of almost $3500”, commented Helen Tong-Ishikawa, the Department of Housing’s Senior Policy Analyst.  Small “mom and pop” landlords with four or fewer rental units may continue to charge two months’ rent as a security deposit.