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AB 1482 Explained
Complete Guide to California’s Rent Control Law – Enacted on January 1, 2020, the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (Assembly Bill 1482) fundamentally changed landlord-tenant relations across the state. Designed to prevent predatory rent hikes and arbitrary evictions, AB 1482 established statewide controls on rent increases and introduced strict “just cause” requirements for terminating tenancies.
Whether you are a residential landlord managing investment property or a tenant seeking to understand your housing rights under California real estate law, navigating AB 1482 is critical to avoiding illegal rent demands or unlawful detainer lawsuits.
1. Statewide Rent Caps: How Much Can Rent Be Raised?
Under AB 1482, annual rent increases for covered residential properties are strictly capped.
- The Maximum Increase: Rent cannot be increased by more than 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI), or 10% total—whichever is lower—over any 12-month period.
- The 12-Month Limit: A landlord cannot increase rent more than twice in any 12-month period, provided the cumulative increase does not exceed the statutory cap.
- Vacancy Decontrol: AB 1482 does not establish vacancy control. When a tenant voluntarily moves out or is lawfully evicted, the landlord can reset the rent price to market rate for the next incoming tenant. Once the new tenant moves in, the AB 1482 cap applies to subsequent rent hikes.
Example Calculation: If the local CPI rate is 3.2%, the maximum allowable rent increase for that year would be 8.2% (5% + 3.2%). If local CPI were 6%, the cap would top out at 10% due to the hard statutory ceiling.
2. “Just Cause” Eviction Protections
Before AB 1482, landlords could generally terminate a month-to-month tenancy with a standard 30-day or 60-day notice without providing a reason. Under AB 1482, once a tenant has continuously and lawfully occupied a unit for 12 months or more (or 24 months if additional adult tenants have been added to the lease), the landlord must have “Just Cause“ to terminate the tenancy.
AB 1482 divides “Just Cause” into two distinct legal categories:
At-Fault Just Cause
These evictions stem from a breach of lease terms or illegal conduct by the tenant. The landlord is not required to pay relocation assistance. Common grounds include:
- Nonpayment of rent
- Material breach of the lease agreement after receiving a written cure notice
- Maintaining or committing a nuisance or waste on the property
- Using the unit for illegal activities
- Refusal to allow lawful landlord entry after proper notice
- Failure to vacate after giving written notice of intent to terminate
No-Fault Just Cause
These evictions occur through no fault of the tenant. Because the tenant has done nothing wrong, the landlord must pay one month’s rent as relocation assistance (or waive the final month’s rent) regardless of the tenant’s income. Qualifying reasons include:
- Owner Occupancy: Intent to occupy the unit by the property owner, or the owner’s spouse, domestic partner, children, grandchildren, parents, or grandparents (must be written into the lease or agreed upon).
- Withdrawal from the Rental Market: Permanently removing the unit from the rental market (often under the Ellis Act).
- Government Order: Compliance with an official court order or local government agency command to vacate due to habitability issues.
- Substantial Remodeling: Substantial rehabilitation or demolition that cannot be safely completed with the tenant occupying the property (cosmetic touch-ups do not qualify).
3. Which Properties Are Exempt from AB 1482?
AB 1482 applies to millions of rental units in California, but significant statutory exemptions exist. Key exemptions include:
| Property Type | Exemption Details |
| Single-Family Homes & Condos | Exempt ONLY IF the owner is NOT a real estate investment trust (REIT), corporation, or LLC with a corporate member, AND the required written notice of exemption is provided to the tenant in the lease agreement. |
| Newer Construction | Housing built within the past 15 years (measured on a rolling basis from the certificate of occupancy date). |
| Duplexes (Owner-Occupied) | Two-unit properties where the owner occupied one unit as their principal residence prior to the start of the second tenancy. |
| School & Institutional Housing | Dormitories, medical facilities, and licensed care facilities. |
| Stricter Local Rent Control | Properties already governed by a local municipal rent stabilization ordinance (e.g., in Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Berkeley) that provides stronger rent caps or eviction protections. |
Mandatory Notice Requirements for Landlords
To claim exemptions or legally adjust rent, landlords must comply with statutory notice obligations:
- Exemption Notice: Landlords owning qualifying single-family homes or condos must give tenants a written disclosure stating that the property is exempt from AB 1482 rent caps and just cause protections. For leases signed on or after July 1, 2020, this notice must be included in the lease contract itself.
- Rent Increase Notice: Under California Civil Code Section 827, landlords must give at least 30 days’ advance written notice for rent increases of 10% or less, or 90 days’ notice if the increase exceeds 10% (where permitted outside of rent control).
(Disclaimer: The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Readers should contact a licensed California real estate attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter.)