How to Get Landlord Consent (California)

If you are starting a Family Child Care in a home that you currently rent, you do not need consent from your landlord. However, you will need to submit a notification letter. In California, it is illegal to evict a tenant on the basis of starting an FCC. California has laws that protect family child care homes (FCCs) and that empower individuals to start FCC’s.

For more information about notifying your current landlord that you intend to open an FCC, see this article: https://onepreschool.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115007777247

The only situation in which you need landlord consent in your current space is if you go above 6 kids on a small license or above 12 kids on a large license. In both cases, the additional children must be 5-6+ years old. You landlord must sign this form: http://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/entres/forms/English/LIC9149.PDF

If you are considering moving to a new home in order to start an FCC, you should make sure you know the laws for each city you may consider moving to. Landlords may be wary of a prospective tenant who wants to start an FCC . Use the advice below to get your landlord on board.

At Wonderschool, we started two schools ourselves before working with teachers to start schools out of their own homes so we have a good amount of institutional knowledge here. 

We’ve found that getting a landlord to say "yes" requires some persuasion. Landlords can typically rent their homes to non preschool teachers who they deem as safer bets.  They often have concerns about liability or wear and tear on their property, so you have to win them over.  

Here is a document that you can use to share with Landlords: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eCuQvX2APJWwfmc6voIdlYd5znhwr_Dt5XnzGzzYOEQ/edit

Best Practices

1. You can assume most landlords are going to say “no” to you.

• It took us 5 landlords that said “no” before one said “yes.”

2. Aim for volume - talk to as many landlords as you can!

3. Try to meet in person and talk in person.

4. Landlords are afraid that you will make them lose their house.

• Talk to them about the insurance you will have.
• Tell them you will put them on the child care insurance as an “additional insured.”
• Offer to let them speak to the insurance providers; Wonderschool will gladly connect you.

5. Tell Landlord the benefits of renting to a preschool teacher

• You will be there for a long time.
• You will pay rent on time.
• The school is small - 6 or 12 kids maximum (depending on license type).
• The children are tiny. Better to rent to small kids instead of a family with teenagers.

6. Back up plans

• Offer to pay a higher security deposit as a back up.
• Aim to speak to a younger person like the son or daughter. They can be more accommodating.