The complete California move-in, move-out, and security-deposit system. Plain-English playbook, fill-in templates, and a deadline tracker — built around current California law (AB 12, AB 2801, Civil Code § 1950.5).
Instant download · Editable Word, Google Docs & PDF · Excel tracker
There's a hard 21-day clock, new photo rules, a cap on what you can collect, and a long list of things you can't deduct. Get one wrong and a routine move-out becomes a small-claims judgment.
Miss it and you can forfeit your right to deduct anything at all.
AB 2801 now requires before-and-after photos to back up deductions.
Charge for normal wear and tear and you've handed the tenant a case.
One system that takes you from collecting the deposit to returning it — with the exact documents for each step.
The whole process in plain English, every point sourced to California law.
Room-by-room condition records that hold up in a dispute.
Organize the move-in, before, and after photos the law now requires.
The step that prevents most deposit disputes before they start.
The 21-day statement, built to be compliant — receipts, photos, the works.
Enter the move-out date; it counts down the deadline for you.
2026 Edition. Buy once, download instantly, use it for every move-out.
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Get the one-page California 21-Day Security Deposit Checklist, free. The short version of doing it right, printable, by your desk.
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No. It's an educational resource that explains California law and gives you the documents to follow it. It is not a substitute for an attorney, and you should consult one about your specific situation.
It covers California state law. Some cities add rules (like deposit interest or rent control). The playbook tells you where to check those for your location.
Editable Microsoft Word (.docx) that also open in Google Docs, print-ready PDFs, and an Excel tracker. Everything downloads instantly after purchase.
A California real estate investor with a decade of hands-on experience managing properties and tenants — someone who has dealt with these move-outs and deposits firsthand. Every legal point is sourced to the California DRE's official guide and the Civil Code so you can verify it.
Yes. California deposit law changes most years. This is the 2026 Edition; buy it once and use the current edition for your move-outs.
California Landlord Kit is building the simple, compliant toolset every California landlord wishes they had.