But when it comes to common-sense tenant rights laws, too many Democrats vote the wrong way.  They take large donations from the real estate lobby, which wields undeserved clout in Sacramento.  Even some “progressive” Democrats who represent deep-blue, urban districts are not our best allies.

At Tenants Together we’re working to change how tenants are treated in Sacramento. On Tuesday May 7th, dozens of Tenants Together members took to the Capitol for a “Day of Action” to urge State Senators to support SB 603, a bill to promote security deposit reform. While tenants were walking the halls of the Capitol, the Senate Judiciary approved the bill by a vote of 4-1, a key step toward passage of the law. The “Day of Action” was a show of force by tenants in a capital often dominated by real estate industry lobbyists.

Members who participated in the Day of Action were victims of security deposit theft and allies. One member, Sebrina, flew in from San Diego to make sure Senators heard her story. Sebrina says, “My deposit was partially withheld for cleaning and unnamed “damages.”  I left the place cleaner than it was when I moved in.  As for damages, I have no idea what the landlord was talking about and they never explained or documented any repair expenses.  The apartment sits now, almost 3 years later, as storage for odds and ends and paint, tools, unused carpet and so on. No one has ever lived there since I moved.”

At the Senate Judiciary Hearing Sen. Mark Leno (D – San Francisco) emphasized how many tenants across the state are suffering under the unfair treatment of tenant security deposits, and now is the time to act. Chair of the Committee, Noreen Evans (D – Santa Rosa), said that she herself had said that she herself had experienced unfair deposit withholding as a renter and felt this was an important bill to pass. Votes in favor were Sen. Evans, Sen. Bill Monning (D – Monterey), Sen. Ellen Corbett (D – East Bay), and Sen. Leno.

Supporters and advocates who could not make lobbying efforts participated in the “Day of Action” by writing letters and making calls to their senators. SB 603 now moves to the Senate floor where a vote is expected before the end of May.

The real estate industry has lobbyists every day in the State Capitol, many of whom are shameless about spreading misinformation and trying to intimidate Democratic legislators in voting against tenant protections.  With your help, we can make sure that Sacramento listens to the state’s 15 million renters – by voting “yes” on SB 603. We need every tenant in California to call their Senator NOW!

To learn more about SB 603 – Security Deposit Fairness visit:

YourDeposit.org, Estudinero.org, or follow the campaign on Twitter @EndDepositTheft

Check out all our photos from Lobby Day on Facebook.

Check out all our photos from Lobby Day on Facebook.

Take action today to urge your state senator to vote in favor of this important bill for California tenants!

LOBBY DAY NEXT MONTH:

Tuesday, May 7th–tenants and advocates across the state will visit Sacramento to make an in-person impact. If you’d like to join us, fill out our campaign support form.

“One the biggest complaints California’s 15 million renters voice when a lease ends is that they have little recourse in dealing with a landlord who refuses to return their deposits,” said Senator Leno, D-San Francisco. “At a time when deposits can be $5,000 or more, the failure to pay interest or properly return a security deposit can be a significant and unnecessary financial burden on many renters. SB 603 protects tenants in this situation by encouraging landlords to return security deposits in a timely manner, as required by law,” he said.

SB 603 is co-sponsored by Tenants Together, Western Center on Law and Poverty and California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation. The bill responds to widespread complaints from tenants across the state that their deposits are unfairly withheld. According to a recent survey of Tenants Together members, 60% reported that some or all of their security deposit had been improperly withheld.

“It’s gotten so bad that tenants paying their security deposits don’t ever expect to see that money again,” commented Dean Preston, Executive Director of Tenants Together, California’s statewide organization for renters’ rights. “California’s 15 million renters deserve better when it comes to the billions of their dollars being held as deposits,” commented Preston.

Security deposits are among the largest financial assets, and sometimes the only asset, that many tenants have. Deposits can be thousands of dollars, particularly in Senator Leno’s 11th Senate District that encompasses San Francisco.

Brain Augusta, Legislative Advocate at the Western Center on Law and Poverty, noted the unfairness of depriving tenants of interest on deposits. “Landlords who hold tenants’ money, sometimes for years, should be required to pay the renter interest,” said Augusta. “This isn’t just a landlord-tenant issue. It’s about basic consumer protection.” Currently, only a handful of jurisdictions in California require that tenants be paid interest on security deposits.

The cause has quickly attracted broad support. Tenants Together recently launched www.YourDeposit.org, a new website to educate tenants and protect deposits. Already, 20 community organizations including tenant groups, unions, civil rights groups, and consumer advocates have signed onto the effort.

SB 603 will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee this spring.

– Lilian, Lawndale

Today we’re launching “It’s Your Money,” a new campaign to stop security deposit theft by California landlords.  Central to the campaign is our website, www.YourDeposit.org, featuring know-your-rights information for tenants, tips on how to protect deposits, tenant stories and policy recommendations.  The site allows tenants to share their security deposit horror stories.

Security deposit theft is one of the most common grievances among California’s 15 million renters.   In a recent survey, over 60% of Tenants Together members reported improper withholding of deposit money.  This is an astonishing figure, but not one that surprises anyone working with California tenants.

“Millions of dollars are being stolen from tenants every year,” commented Dean Preston, Executive Director of Tenants Together, California’s statewide organization for renters’ rights.  “It’s gotten so bad that tenants paying their security deposits don’t ever expect to see that money again. Something has got to change.”

Unlike in many other states, California law does not require deposit money to be held in a separate account, does not require a landlord to pay interest on the deposit to tenants, and rarely imposes any penalty on landlords that improperly withhold deposits.

The “It’s Your Money” campaign seeks to change the dynamic and bring about basic fairness when it comes to security deposits.  The campaign coalition is united around three basic principles:

1. Deposit money should not be comingled with other landlord assets

2.  Tenants deserve interest on security deposits

3.  Landlords who improperly withhold deposits must face meaningful penalties

Join us by taking the pledge to support our campaign!

-Evelyn, Montrose

-Saoirse, Oakland

-Sam, Fresno

-Sherelle, Mountain Horse