Question: In several months, my tenant’s initial one-year fixed-term lease will end. What are my options for offering a renewal lease or terminating the tenancy? This property is exempt from AB 1482 because it is less than 15 years old and is not subject to any local rent control or just cause ordinance.
Answer: New construction (defined as property built within the last 15 years) is exempt from rent control and just cause for eviction restrictions. This is a rolling exemption: once the property reaches its 15th birthday, it will fall under AB 1482.
Non-Renewal of Lease: If you are using the CAA lease, the tenancy ends when the lease expires without notice from either party. If you are using the CAA lease, you can use this courtesy notice of non-renewal to let the tenant know you are not going to offer a continuation of the tenancy at the end of the initial fixed term. See Notice of Non-Renewal of Lease. This is a courtesy notice because, for a tenant not protected by AB 1482, the default under the CAA lease is that the tenancy will end when the lease expires. If you are using a non-CAA lease, check it for termination/non-renewal requirements.
CAA recommends providing the notice of non-renewal 90 days before the end of the lease term. While this is not a legal requirement, it maximizes the likelihood of the tenant moving out on time and gives you time to plan for turning the unit. CAA recommends providing the notice of the tenant’s right to a pre-move-out walkthrough at the same time. See form and instructions here: Notice of Resident Option to Request an Initial Inspection and additional information here: Walk-Through Process.
Renewal Proposal/Offer: Since the tenancy is not protected, you can require the tenant to sign an updated renewal lease with the terms/provisions of your choosing. To make such an offer, use this non-binding lease renewal offer and instructions: Notice of Expiration of Lease and Non-Binding Proposal for Renewal. You can use this form to offer a renewal fixed-term lease, to offer a renewal month-to-month agreement, or to offer the tenant a choice. For example, some landlords who prefer a fixed-term lease but are willing to enter into a month-to-month agreement will offer both, but with a lower rent increase for the fixed-term lease.
This “proposal” is non-binding, so that you, as the landlord, can change your mind if you need to. You can “require” the tenant to sign because you also have the option of a “no cause” non-renewal. CAA recommends providing this offer 90 days prior to the end of the lease. It requires the tenant to reply by a deadline you specify. If the tenant does not sign by that deadline, the tenancy will end when the CAA lease expires. For that reason, the deadline should allow time to provide the notice of the tenant’s right to a pre-move-out walkthrough.
While a tenancy will automatically go month-to-month if you accept rent after the lease expires, CAA recommends requiring the tenant to sign an updated agreement each year. CAA updates its rental agreements annually to cover new laws and to add protections for owners and managers of rental property. Additionally, when you reach out to the tenant well before the end of the lease, you will have a much better idea of the tenant’s plans.
Additional Resources
CAA’s Renewal Agreements and Instructions
The most recent list of disclosures/notices/addenda for inclusion in the lease: 2026 A Checklist of Disclosures, Forms, Publications, and Postings Mandated for California Rental Housing
Industry Insights
Helpline Highlights
- Helpline Highlight: When AB 1482 just-cause rules kick in and what it means for lease renewals
- Helpline Highlight: Seven steps that protect your security deposit deductions at move-out
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