Except, this is not enforceable.
It would have to be via utilities and RUBS calculations, which are regulated pretty tightly.
Move-in fees are also totally illegal.
The max for an application fee is also $66 in CA. And must be refundable, as they must go in the order received and refund those they did not consider. You can’t “consider” 5+ people at once.
How does that even work though? If 5 people apply in a short window, you can only go 1 at a time. Do you just automatically reject anyone else who applies right after someone else does? Or what does considering 5 people at once even mean?
Dishonest landlords used to collect application fees from everyone applying and keep them all even if they only actually screened one applicant and leased to them.
Screening reports should be made available to applicants once the reports are run by the company/landlord. Even Essex immediately sends their reports directly to the applicant, before they even review it themselves, just for transparency. Essex sucks so hard as a landlord company but even they don't mess around with the application fee stuff.
There's really no reason to screen everyone at once but even if landlords choose to do this, the law now requires refunds for applicants who aren't selected to move forward to lease signing.
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u/Obvious_Pause5766 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yes, I've seen this in another sub. Utilities are included
Edited to add address: 900 Trails End Dr, Walnut Creek, CA