Renters in California could soon receive added protections when it comes to application fees for rental units, as well as security deposits. One study by RentCafe found that there are on average 24 applications submitted for every available rental unit in San Diego, meaning prospective tenants are often spending hundreds on application fees they rarely get back. This newly proposed legislation aims to change that. "It is really crazy, because as soon as places are posted, they're gone in like two seconds!" said Joshua Houston, who moved to San Diego from Memphis. He said the competition to land an apartment here is fierce, and often requires prospective tenants to shell out significant cash up front. "Application fees can go from anywhere from $40 to $80 per application, and you have to apply for anywhere from five to 10 to however many you have until you actually get your spot," he told CBS 8. Assembly Bill 2785 would change the game, though. capping application fees at $50 and also refunding applicants who ultimately don't get the rental. MORE: https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/renters-could-receive-new-protections-from-application-fees-security-deposits/509-e0cfe95d-6ddf-43b5-a210-4bd129fe9ab6