Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

landlord wants checking acoount number

5 of us share a house. We just added the 5th person on our lease.

Our land-lady is asking for this persons checking account numbers.

is this legal?

She said her reason was so she ''knows how much is in the account'' so she knows that he''can make the rent payments''... but if i'm not mistaken, the point of a lease is so that no matter what, the rent gets paid. So even if this 5th person loses his job, its our responsibility to make sure we still get the rent paid for, on time.

He told her he was uncomfortable giving away that information and she said she would ''take legal action'' against him if he didnt.

Note that NO ONE ELSE on the lease has EVER given our land lady our banking account numbers.

What should our response be? Do landlords have a legal right to know your bank account information?


Asked on 8/06/08, 6:33 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Robert L. Bennett Law offices of Robert L. Bennett

Re: landlord wants checking acoount number

It is easy enough for her to get on a credit application.

This is not illegal. He is asking for credit.

And, occasionally, four of five will default and landlord has to collect from the fifth.

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Answered on 8/06/08, 10:34 pm


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