Renting a Home in California: What to Pay Attention To and What to Ignore

Renting a home in California for a year or more is an exciting step. Whether you're moving for a job in Los Angeles or settling down in the Bay Area, a 12-month lease means you'll be truly living in that space. With such a long stay, it's crucial to choose a rental that will keep you happy month after month. But how do you know if a house will be a dream or a dud? When touring potential homes, it helps to know what really matters in the long run – and what superficial details you can safely shrug off.

Below, we'll break down the key things to pay attention to during your search, as well as the things you can ignore when making your decision. This way, you can focus on finding a place that fits your needs without getting sidetracked by minor issues. We'll also include some real-life California examples – from braving Los Angeles traffic to embracing the quirks of an old San Francisco Victorian – to put these tips into perspective.

What to Pay Attention To

Not all aspects of a home are created equal. Some factors will dramatically affect your daily life and satisfaction as a long-term renter. These are the critical points you should keep an eye on when evaluating a rental:

Location, Neighborhood, and Commute Times:

Living in the right location can make or break your California rental experience. Consider how the neighborhood suits your lifestyle. Also, think hard about your commute. In California's big cities, traffic can be a beast. For example, commuting across Los Angeles for work could easily mean spending over 150 hours a year in your car if you live far from the offic​e. Before you sign a lease, try driving or taking public transit from the rental to your workplace during rush hour to gauge the commute. If the neighborhood passes the commute test and offers the amenities you need – like good schools, parks, or grocery stores – that's a great sign. Remember, you can change a lot about a house's interior, but you can't move it to a better location!

Budget and Potential Repair Costs

Money matters, especially in high-cost-of-living areas like California. Set a realistic budget not just for rent, but also for utilities and any upkeep you might be responsible for. When viewing a home, look for signs of maintenance or potential issues that might cost you later. For instance, an older rental house in the Bay Area might have antiquated plumbing or an aging water heater. As a renter, major fixes are usually the landlord’s responsibility, but an older home could still mean more minor inconveniences (like a quirky toilet or occasional plumber visits). If the house has obvious problems – a leaky faucet, flickering lights, or an HVAC unit that sounds like it’s on its last legs – consider asking the landlord if those will be fixed before move-in. Make sure the rent is fair for the condition of the home, and factor in renter’s insurance and potential utility spikes (like running the heater in a drafty San Francisco Victorian or the AC during a Southern California heatwave). The goal is to avoid any nasty financial surprises during your tenancy.

Must-Haves and Deal-Breakers

Before you start house-hunting, it helps to make a list of your non-negotiables. These are the features you must have for a comfortable life, and the deal-breakers you absolutely won't tolerate. If you have a car in Los Angeles, for example, dedicated parking might be a must-have – hunting for street parking in busy neighborhoods can be a daily nightmare. Love to cook? Then a functional kitchen (with enough counter space and a decent stove) might be high on your list. Working from home? Perhaps you need a quiet room for a home office and reliable high-speed internet available in that area. On the flip side, identify your deal-breakers: maybe you can’t live with a place that has no air conditioning in the scorching Palm Springs summer, or perhaps you refuse to rent a home that allows smoking indoors due to allergies. When touring a home, mentally check it against your must-haves list. Does it have the number of bedrooms you need? Is there laundry on-site (a common must-have for many renters)? Don’t compromise on the things that will impact your happiness or health every day. If a house lacks one of your essentials, it’s probably not the right fit for a year-long stay.

Structural Integrity (Roof, Plumbing, Foundation)

Think of a house’s structure as its backbone – you want it strong and problem-free. While you might not be a professional inspector, you can still keep an eye out for red flags about the home's structural integrity. Look up at the ceiling and along the walls for water stains or mold, which could indicate a leaky roof or plumbing issues. Check under sinks for signs of past leaks. In earthquake-prone California, a solid foundation is important – sloping floors or big cracks in the walls could be warning signs of foundation problems.

For example, many charming older homes in the Bay Area (like those cute Victorian or Craftsman houses) have tons of character but might also come with old pipes or wiring. If you're considering such a home, ask when it was last updated or if it has been retrofitted for earthquakes. A quick peek at the roof (from outside) is wise too: missing shingles or sagging areas could spell trouble when the winter rains come. Structural issues can seriously disrupt your living (imagine dealing with a ceiling leak during El Niño storms!). As a long-term renter, you want a house that’s safe and sound. If anything about the structure seems concerning, don’t ignore it – ask the landlord questions, or even consider having a professional inspection if it’s a standalone house. It’s better to catch a problem early than to discover your rental home turns into a rainwater pond every time it drizzles.

What to Ignore

Now that we've covered the big-ticket items, let's talk about the stuff that might seem icky or annoying during a tour, but really doesn't matter in the long run. These are the things you should not stress over, especially if everything else about the home checks out. In a long-term rental, minor blemishes or cosmetic issues are either fixable or easy to live with once you make the place your own. Here are some common examples of what you can safely ignore:

Outdated Décor or Paint Colors

Don’t let a 1970s avocado-green bathroom or some funky old wallpaper scare you off. Outdated décor is a cosmetic issue, not a structural one. If the home has everything else going for it – the right location, price, and layout – then the fact that the kitchen cabinets are an old oak finish or the walls are painted an odd beige can be overlooked. You can always talk to the landlord about repainting (many are fine with you giving the walls a fresh coat of neutral paint, especially if the current colors are truly garish). As a renter, you won’t want to invest heavily in renovations, but little touches can modernize an older space.

For example, many older Bay Area homes have vintage tile bathrooms; it might not be your style, but throw down a cute rug and it’s just part of the house’s character. Remember, you’re not buying the place – you just need it to be comfortable and functional. You can live with an ugly light fixture or dated countertop for a year if everything else fits your needs.

Temporary Clutter or Disorganization

Sometimes when you tour a rental, the current tenant or landlord is still in the process of moving out or tidying up. There might be boxes stacked in the living room, clothes strewn about, or a garage full of junk. It’s important to look past the clutter and imagine the space empty (or clean). That messy bedroom could be your cozy sanctuary once the clutter is gone and you arrange your own furniture.

The landlord isn’t renting you their stuff or their mess; all that will be cleared out by the time you move in. Focus on the size and layout of the rooms, not the fact that the current occupant hasn’t made their bed or that the countertops are covered in random items. A bit of disorganization during a showing is usually temporary and shouldn’t deter you if the bones of the place are good. One tip: if the place is extremely dirty or cluttered, you might ask if the landlord will have it professionally cleaned before you move in (most will). But don’t confuse a messy presentation with the potential of the home itself.

Overgrown Lawn or Lack of Curb Appeal

The grass is a foot tall and the flower beds are full of weeds? Try not to cringe – an overgrown yard is a quick fix and doesn’t reflect the quality of the house. In fact, in drought-prone California, many lawns turn brown or get a bit wild in the dry season; it doesn’t necessarily mean neglect, sometimes it’s just water conservation. Curb appeal is more critical when buying a home (or if you really love gardening). As a renter, you should care more about the inside of the house and the functionality of things like locks and lights, rather than whether the front bushes are perfectly trimmed. If you like the place but the yard is a mess, talk to the landlord.

Often, they’ll handle landscaping before a new tenant moves in, or they might even appreciate you volunteering to do a little yard work if you’re into gardening (maybe in exchange for a small discount or just the fun of it). Either way, don’t let some tall grass or peeling exterior paint be a deal-breaker. Picture the home once the lawn is mowed and the leaves are raked – it could be quite charming with minimal effort.

Unusual Room Setups or Furniture Placement

Ever walk into a house showing and scratch your head at why the dining table is in the garage or the couch is blocking a doorway? Remember that the current arrangement of furniture is not permanent. Unusual room setups can be completely redone once you move in with your own furniture and style. Maybe the previous tenant used the dining room as a home office or put a bed in the living room to maximize space. That might make the flow of the house feel odd during the tour, but it won’t matter when the place is empty and ready for you to make it your own.

Focus on the space itself: the square footage, the windows and natural light, the layout of walls and doors. Ignore the fact that, say, the second bedroom is currently full of storage bins and a big drum set – all that can and will be moved. Envision how you would use each room. That tiny weird nook under the stairs could become a perfect little reading corner with a comfy chair, no matter how bizarre it looks as a storage space now. As long as the rooms are sufficient for your needs in size and number, don’t be put off by the current tenant’s odd furniture choices or staging.

Finding Your Perfect California Rental

When you’re committing to at least a year in a rental home, you want to make sure it’s a place you’ll love (or at least really like) living in. The key is to keep your eyes on the prize: a home that meets your needs in the ways that truly matter. Prioritize the factors that will affect your daily quality of life – a reasonable commute, a price you can afford, your must-have amenities, and a solid, safe structure. These are the things that will make you comfortable and happy in the long run.

At the same time, give yourself permission to ignore the little negatives that don’t actually impact your long-term happiness. Ugly paint, dirty carpets that can be cleaned, or a jungle-like yard can all be addressed or tolerated for a while. What’s important is that you can envision yourself living there contentedly once those superficial things are cleaned up or tuned out.

By focusing on the big picture and not sweating the small stuff, you’ll be far more likely to find a rental that you’ll enjoy coming home to every day. After all, no rental is absolutely perfect, but if it checks all the important boxes, you can make it your perfect home for the next 12 months (and maybe beyond).