08/06/2026
【灣區落地筆記 #1】好學區 SFH / TH 出租，簽約前先看這三條
Renting a SFH / TH in a top school district? Check these 3 lease terms first.
I recently helped a family relocating from Canada settle into the Bay Area. They needed a single-family home or townhouse in a good school district, which is one of the more competitive rental categories here.
Unlike large apartment communities, privately owned SFH / TH rentals often do not use the same standard lease format. Every lease can be different, so it is important to review the details before signing.
Three terms I always pay close attention to:
1️⃣ Security Deposit
Under California AB 12, most residential landlords can only collect up to one month’s rent as a security deposit. If more is requested, ask for written clarification on whether the landlord qualifies for a small-landlord exemption.
2️⃣ Early Lease Termination
Some leases require 30 days’ written notice plus 1–2 months’ rent. Others may hold the tenant responsible for the remaining lease term. Understand your exit cost before signing.
3️⃣ Holdover / Notice Period
Some leases state that if the tenant stays past the lease end date, or does not give proper notice within the required timeframe, the rent may automatically increase. Most tenants do not intentionally overstay, but it is easy to miss the notice period stated in the lease. Mark your lease end date and notice deadline carefully.
——
最近協助一個從加拿大搬來灣區的家庭完成 relocation。他們需要好學區的獨立屋（SFH）或連排屋（TH）。這類出租房源在灣區本來就少，競爭也比較激烈。
很多新來的朋友不知道：私人房東出租的 SFH / TH，租約不像大型 apartment community 那麼標準化。每一份 lease 都可能不太一樣，簽約前一定要逐條看清楚。
我通常會特別看這三條：
1️⃣ 押金（Security Deposit）
根據 California AB 12，多數住宅租賃的押金上限是一個月房租。如果房東要求超過一個月，可以請房東書面說明是否符合 small-landlord exemption。
2️⃣ 提前解約（Early Lease Termination）
有些租約是 30 天書面通知，加上 1–2 個月租金；但有些租約可能要求租客負責剩餘租期的租金。簽約前，先看清楚自己的「退場成本」。
3️⃣ 逾期不搬 / 未提前通知（Holdover / Notice Period）
有些租約會寫明，如果租期結束後沒有搬走，或沒有在規定期限內提前通知不續租，租金可能會自動調高。很多時候不是租客故意逾期，而是忽略了 lease 裡的 notice period，所以租約到期日和通知期限一定要記清楚。
好房源很重要，但租約細節也一樣重要。
正準備搬來灣區，想聊聊租房/買房,灣區生活，歡迎私訊😊
#灣區租房 #灣區生活
