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SB 1335

Tenancy: disposition of personal property abandoned in common areas.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tony Strickland

Creates an optional, structured process for handling personal property left in common areas during tenancy, with notice, storage, and disposal options.

April 28 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
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Bill Summary · SB 1335

Summary of SB 1335 (2025-2026) – California Tenancy: Disposition of Personal Property Abandoned in Common Areas

Purpose and intent

  • SB 1335, introduced by Senator Strickland, adds a new chapter to the Civil Code that creates an optional procedure for handling personal property that remains in a common area during a tenancy (i.e., while a tenant is still occupying the premises, as opposed to after termination of tenancy).
  • The goal is to codify a formal process for identifying, notifying, storing, and disposing of belongings left in common areas, with similar elements to the existing post-termination abandonment procedures.

Key provisions and changes

  • New Chapter 5.3 added to Civil Code, commencing with Section 1992, defining terms and establishing procedures for abandoned personal property in common areas during a tenancy.
  • Definitions (Section 1992.1):
    • Common area: Shared spaces benefiting all occupants (e.g., lobbies, hallways, elevators, stairwells, laundry, parking, gardens).
    • Landlord: Operator/lessor/keeper of premises or their agent/ successor.
    • Owner: Person other than the landlord with any right or interest in the personal property.
    • Premises: Areas leased to a tenant, excluding common areas.
    • Reasonable belief, Records, Tenant: Defined for purposes of these procedures.
  • Applicability (1992.1(a)-(d)):
    • Chapter does not apply to commercial real property (with certain caveats related to self-storage units and other specified exemptions).
    • Applies to personal property left in a common area during a tenancy, not only after termination.
  • Optional disposition procedures (1992.2):
    • Chapter provides an optional approach; it does not override other existing statutes (e.g., Article 2, Section 2018+ of Title 6 or certain health code provisions).
    • Excludes certain categories (e.g., animals governed by other statutes, utility property, etc.).
  • Property deemed lost or unclaimed (1992.3):
    • If considered lost, disposal follows related civil code procedures for lost property.
  • Notice requirements (1992.4, 1992.5):
    • Landlord must provide written notice to the tenant and to any person the landlord reasonably believes to be the owner.
    • Notice must sufficiently describe the property and indicate where it may be claimed, and identify a claim deadline (not less than 15 days after personal delivery, or 18 days after mailing).
    • Notice may be delivered personally, mailed to last known address, and may include email if available.
    • If the property is records, the tenant is presumed to be the owner for purposes of this chapter.
    • The notice form (Section 1992.5) provides a template including the claim deadline and potential storage costs.
  • Storage and release (1992.6–1992.8):
    • Landlord may either leave the property in the common area or store it in a safekeeping location.
    • Landlord must exercise reasonable care in storage; liability for loss is limited.
    • Release without storage charge if claimed by deadline (1992.7): the owner/tenant may claim at no storage cost if taken possession by the deadline.
    • If not released, landlord may dispose of the property, retain it, or continue storage with storage costs (1992.8).
  • Liability limitations (1992.9):
    • If released to the tenant, landlord has no liability to others.
    • If released to a non-tenant owner, landlord has limited liability to those who were notified or could have reasonably been identified; similar limits apply to disposal.

  • Storage cost allocation (1992.10):

    • Storage costs may be charged to the claimant (tenant or owner) based on who is asserting ownership.
    • Storage costs cannot be charged to multiple parties for the same costs.
    • If stored in a common area, storage costs must reflect fair rental value for the duration stored.
    • Costs are not charged if the property is claimed within the earlier of 15 days after notice or 18 days after notice by mail.

  • Cross-reference to existing Civil Code provisions:

    • The bill also amends Section 1980 to align definitions (Landlord, Owner, Premises, Reasonable belief, Records, Tenant) with the new chapter’s terminology, including expansion to “Premises” to include common areas for purposes of related statutes.

What would be affected

  • Landlords, property managers, and apartment/property operators: They would have a new optional, formal process to address personal property left in common areas during tenancy.
  • Tenants and potential owners: They gain defined rights to be notified, claim property, and limits on storage costs if they act within specified timeframes.
  • Self-storage and certain commercial properties: The bill clarifies applicability and exclusions to avoid conflicts with existing storage and commercial property rules.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Notice and claim windows:
    • Claim period: not less than 15 days after personal delivery or 18 days after mailing.
    • Storage costs may apply if ownership is claimed after the deadline.
  • Release or disposal:
    • If claimed by deadline: property released to the claimant with no storage charge (to the extent applicable).
    • If not claimed: landlord may dispose of, or continue storing the property, with potential storage charges.
  • Effective status:
    • The bill’s status shows amendments and referrals through committees; as of the latest actions in March–April 2026, it has been amended and is moving through California’s legislative process with scheduled hearings.

Bottom line

SB 1335 creates an optional, structured framework for handling personal property left in common areas during a tenancy. It requires notice to potential owners, permits storage with cost recovery, and provides clear paths for release, disposal, or retention, while clarifying liability and applicability to various property types. The bill is designed to bring predictability and safety to how landlords manage belongings temporarily left in shared spaces during occupancy.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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