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Malibu is a coastal city in Los Angeles County with a small but significant rental market, home to roughly 13,000 residents. Given its high-cost real estate environment, renters in Malibu face some of the steepest rents in Southern California, making it especially important to understand your legal rights as a tenant. The most common questions Malibu renters ask involve how much a landlord can raise rent, how quickly a deposit must be returned, and what protections exist against sudden eviction.
California provides a robust framework of statewide tenant protections through statutes like the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482), the Security Deposit Law (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5), and the Implied Warranty of Habitability (Cal. Civ. Code § 1941). Because Malibu has not enacted any independent local rent control or tenant protection ordinances beyond state law, those statewide rules are the primary source of your rights as a renter here.
This page explains the specific California laws that apply to Malibu tenants, with statute citations you can look up yourself. It is informational only and does not constitute legal advice — if you are facing an eviction or a dispute with your landlord, consult a licensed California attorney or a free legal aid organization.
Malibu has no local rent control ordinance. The city has not passed any municipal law limiting how much landlords may raise rent. However, California's statewide Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482), codified at Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12, imposes annual rent increase caps on many (but not all) residential rental units throughout the state, including those in Malibu.
Under AB 1482, covered landlords may not raise rent by more than 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI) percentage change, with an absolute maximum of 10% per year. This cap applies to rent increases that take effect on or after January 1, 2020. The calculation is based on the April CPI figure published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Important exemptions: AB 1482 does not apply to single-family homes or condominiums where the owner has provided proper written notice of the exemption, buildings constructed within the last 15 years, owner-occupied duplexes, or units already subject to a stricter local rent control ordinance. Because Malibu has no local rent control, these exemptions matter significantly for renters here. If your unit is exempt, your landlord may raise rent by any amount, provided they give proper advance notice (Cal. Civ. Code § 827).
California law provides several critical protections for renters in Malibu beyond rent caps. Each is described below with its governing statute.
Implied Warranty of Habitability (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1941–1941.1): Every landlord in California must maintain rental units in a habitable condition. This includes functioning plumbing, heating, weatherproofing, structural safety, and freedom from infestations. If your landlord fails to make necessary repairs after being notified, you may have the right to repair-and-deduct (up to one month's rent, Cal. Civ. Code § 1942) or to withhold rent after proper notice under certain conditions.
Security Deposit Rules (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5): Landlords may charge a maximum of one month's rent for an unfurnished unit (two months' rent for furnished units, as amended by SB 567 effective July 1, 2024 for new tenancies). Deposits must be returned within 21 calendar days of move-out, along with an itemized statement of any deductions. Wrongful withholding may entitle you to up to 2× the withheld amount in damages.
Notice Requirements (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 827, 1946, 1946.1): For a month-to-month tenancy, landlords must give 30 days' written notice to terminate if the tenant has lived there less than one year, and 60 days' notice if the tenant has occupied the unit for one year or more. Rent increases of 10% or less require 30 days' written notice; increases over 10% require 90 days' written notice (Cal. Civ. Code § 827).
Just Cause Eviction (Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2): Under AB 1482, landlords of covered units must have a legally recognized "just cause" to evict a tenant who has continuously and lawfully occupied a unit for 12 months or more. Just causes include nonpayment of rent, lease violations, nuisance, and certain owner move-in scenarios. Tenants displaced by a no-fault just cause reason may be entitled to one month's rent as relocation assistance.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.5): Landlords may not retaliate against tenants for exercising their legal rights — such as requesting repairs, contacting code enforcement, or organizing with other tenants. Retaliation is presumed if adverse action (like a rent increase or eviction notice) occurs within 180 days of protected tenant activity. Tenants may recover actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Cal. Civ. Code § 789.3): It is illegal for a landlord to lock you out of your unit, remove your belongings, or cut off essential utilities (water, gas, electricity) to force you to leave. Violations entitle the tenant to $100 per day of the violation (minimum $250), plus actual damages and attorney's fees.
Security deposit rules for Malibu renters are governed entirely by Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5, as amended by SB 567 (2023), which took effect July 1, 2024 for new tenancies.
Maximum Deposit Amount: For new leases entered on or after July 1, 2024, landlords may collect no more than one month's rent as a security deposit for unfurnished units. An exception applies for small landlords (individual owners of no more than two residential rental properties with a total of no more than four dwelling units) who may charge up to two months' rent. For furnished units, the cap remains at two months' rent for qualifying landlords. Tenancies established before July 1, 2024 may still be governed by the prior cap of two months' rent (unfurnished) or three months' rent (furnished).
Return Deadline: After you vacate, your landlord has 21 calendar days to return your deposit (or its remaining balance) along with an itemized written statement explaining any deductions. The statement must include receipts or invoices for repairs exceeding $125 (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(g)).
Permissible Deductions: Landlords may only deduct for: unpaid rent, cleaning costs to restore the unit to the condition it was in at move-in (not ordinary wear and tear), and repair of damage caused by the tenant beyond ordinary wear and tear.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If a court finds that your landlord wrongfully withheld all or part of your deposit in bad faith, you may be awarded up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld (i.e., 2× the improperly kept sum), in addition to the actual deposit amount. You may pursue this claim in California Small Claims Court for amounts up to $12,500.
Evictions in Malibu are governed by California's unlawful detainer statutes (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 1161–1179a) and, for covered units, the just cause requirements of Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2 (AB 1482). The eviction process follows specific steps and timelines that landlords must strictly follow.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve a written notice on the tenant. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Unlawful Detainer Filing: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an unlawful detainer (eviction) lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The tenant has 5 business days after being served to file a written response (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1167).
Step 3 — Court Hearing: If the tenant responds, a hearing is scheduled. The court will evaluate the evidence and issue a judgment. If the landlord wins, a Writ of Possession is issued.
Step 4 — Sheriff Lockout: Only a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy may physically remove a tenant pursuant to a Writ of Possession. Landlords have no right to remove tenants themselves.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: Under Cal. Civ. Code § 789.3, a landlord may not lock you out, remove doors or windows, shut off your utilities, or remove your belongings to force you out. Doing so entitles you to $100 per day of the violation (minimum $250), actual damages, and attorney's fees.
Relocation Assistance: Under AB 1482, tenants evicted for a no-fault just cause reason from a covered unit are entitled to relocation assistance equal to one month's rent (Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2(d)).
This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws — including statutes cited here — can change, and their application may vary depending on the specific facts of your situation. If you are facing an eviction, a security deposit dispute, or any other landlord-tenant legal matter, you should consult a licensed California attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization. RentCheckMe makes no warranties about the accuracy or completeness of this information, and renters should independently verify all legal requirements with an attorney or the relevant government agency.
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