Skip to main content Skip to site search
Berkeley Rent Board

Rent: Top bar

  • Housing Authority
  • Public Library
  • School District
Berkeley Rent Board

Rent: Main navigation

  • Services
    • About/Contact Us
    • Services During COVID-19
    • Housing Counseling
    • Mediation
    • Rent Adjustment Petitions
    • Community Outreach
    • Events
    • Rent Board Email Lists
    • Unit Information Lookup
  • Rights & Responsibilities
    • Rent Control 101
    • Rent Levels
    • Registration
    • Security Deposits
    • Evictions
    • Leases
    • Subletting & Replacing Roommates
    • Sale of Property
    • COVID-19: Information for Tenants & Landlords
  • Elected Rent Board
    • Elected Rent Board
    • Meet & Contact the Board
    • Rent Board Meetings
    • Rent Board Committees
    • News
    • Rent Board Budget
    • Commissioner Attendance Records
  • Laws & Regulations
    • Rent Ordinance & Rent Board Regulations
    • New Laws Affecting Rental Properties
    • City of Berkeley Ordinances Affecting Rental Properties
    • State Law
  • Forms & Reports
    • Forms
    • Petition Forms
    • Data & Reports
  • Resources
    • Tenant Resources
    • Landlord Resources
    • Habitability & Repairs
    • Fire Safety
    • Smoking Prohibition
    • Noise
  • Housing Authority
  • Public Library
  • School District

You are here

  • Home
  • Laws & Regulations
  • City of Berkeley Ordinances Affecting Rental Properties
  • Tenant Screening and Application Fees
Share Print

Tenant Screening and Application Fees

There are limits on the amount of and uses for tenant screening and application fees under state and local law. 

Screening Fee Limit & Permissible Uses

The maximum tenant screening fee for 2022 is $60.73

Landlords can only use screening fees to obtain a consumer credit report. Prospective tenants should expect to receive a copy of their credit report, a receipt detailing the cost of the screening, and a refund of any unused portion of the fee.

Notification of state law limitation on tenant screening fees (BMC 13.78.010)

When an owner or the owner’s agent gets a request to rent residential property in Berkeley from an applicant and the owner charges a fee to purchase a consumer credit report and to validate, review, or otherwise process an application, the owner must provide, either in the rental application or in a separate disclosure before receiving the fee, a clear and conspicuous tenant screening fee rights statement and a statement of the maximum fee cap permitted under California Civil Code Section 1950.6(b).

The “Tenant Screening Fee Rights Statement” shall mean the following statement or a substantially similar statement:

"Pursuant to California law you have tenant screening fee rights, including the right to a copy of your consumer credit report if one is obtained with your screening fee, a refund of any unused portion of the fee and a receipt of the costs of the screening. For more information about your rights, please visit [URL to be provided by City]."

*This page will be updated once the URL is provided by the City.

Prohibition of non-refundable application fees associated with existing tenancies (BMC 13.78.016)

An owner of residential rental property (or the owner’s agent) cannot charge a non-refundable fee to any existing tenant for the purpose of renewing a tenancy, in whole or in part, including any fee associated with the departure of a roommate or to request to add or replace a roommate in a pre-existing household.

Applicability to Existing Rental Agreements (BMC 13.78.018)

Chapter 13.78 applies to all residential rental agreements regardless of any contractual language in any rental agreement or lease to the contrary. Any provision of an existing rental agreement or lease that violates the provisions of this chapter are unenforceable.

In this section
City of Berkeley Ordinances Affecting Rental Properties
  • Fair Chance Ordinance
  • Tenant Buyout Ordinance
  • Tenant Protection Ordinance
  • Tenant Screening and Application Fees
  • Lease-Breaking Fee Prohibition

News

Microphone in focus in the foreground with a blurred meeting in the background.

Notice of Public Hearing on Possible Increase of Registration Fees

Spines of folded newspapers lined up in a row with the word "news" written in black text on a white background in the center.

Berkeley Rent Board Supports Bill to Stop Skyrocketing Security Deposits

Hazy, grey-hued city street as seen through heavy rain.

Be Prepared as Heavy Storms Hit Berkeley!

A hand holding a pencil and pushing buttons on a black calculator that is sitting on a table top.

The 2022 Annual Security Deposit Interest Rate is 0.1%

More News
Rent Board Housing Counselor
Email: rent@cityofberkeley.info
Phone: (510) 981-7368 (RENT)

Related BMC

  • Municipal Code 13.78

WE’RE HERE TO HELP

Connect with us online, by phone, or in person.

Rent: Footer Top

Need Help (510) 981-7368 Visit
Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board
2125 Milvia Street., Berkeley, CA 94704

Rent: Footer Social

Rent: Footer Right

  • Sign Up for Our Email Lists
  • Get alerted about emergencies

Rent: Footer

  • Services
  • Counseling
  • Registration
  • RSB Meetings
  • Records Online
  • News
  • Events
  • Contact Us

Rent: Footer Bottom

  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Policy
  • Website Feedback
 

Translation Disclaimer

© 2023 Berkeley Rent Board All rights reserved.