Plain-English answers to the tenant questions renters actually ask. Real statutes, no fluff.
Guides on late fees, with the actual statute numbers and what to do if your lease crosses the line.
California doesn't set a hard cap on residential late fees, but it does set a hard rule. Under Cal. Civ. Code §1671, a late fee must be a reasonable estimate of the actual damages the landlord suffers from late payment. Anything punitive — a flat $50, a 10% charge, a daily-compounding penalty — is unenforceable as a matter of law.
