Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

A landlord can require a tenant to deposit for security twice the amount of the monthly rental. If they orally told you that it would be only one time the monthly rental and then insisted on twice, They are in breach of their oral contract with you. If you have witnesses or some way other way t show what was said then you might be successful in proven you were right. They would either back down and forget it because they realize the person who spoke to you may have made a mistake, or they will refuse to change their mind, or they would let you move in and then give you a thirty day notice to leave. So you can push to some extent but they have the upper hand. It might be best to find some other place to live.

Your situation is governed specifically by California's Mobile Home Residency Law. "The management may only demand a security deposit on or before initial occupancy and the security deposit may not be in an amount or value in excess of an amount equal to two months� rent that is charged at the inception of the occupancy, in addition to any rent for the first month. In no event shall additional security deposits be demanded of a homeowner following the initial occupancy." (Civ. Code, sect. 798.39, subd. (a).)