Hiring of real property: dwellings: untenantability.

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is not specified in the provided official source material.

Rules for Renting Houses: Stoves and Fridges

This law adds stoves and fridges to the list of items needed for a rental home to be livable, starting January 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

• Adds working stoves and fridges to the list of characteristics required for a dwelling unit to be tenantable when renting.
• Requires landlords to fix or replace recalled stoves and fridges within 30 days after receiving notice from the manufacturer or government.
• Allows tenants and landlords to agree that the tenant will provide their own fridge, under certain conditions.
• Does not apply these rules to special housing like permanent supportive housing.

Who It Names or Affects

• Landlords who rent houses with stoves and fridges.
• Tenants renting homes with stoves and fridges.
• People involved in making or enforcing rental laws.

Terms To Know

Recall

When a manufacturer asks people to return a product because it is dangerous or faulty.

Permanent supportive housing

Special homes for people who need long-term support and care.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not apply to certain types of housing like permanent supportive housing.
• The exact conditions under which tenants can provide their own fridge are not detailed in the summary.

Official Summary Text

AB 628, McKinnor.
Hiring of real property: dwellings: untenantability.
Existing law requires that any building with a dwelling unit maintain certain characteristics in order to be tenantable, including the maintenance of adequate heating and hot water systems that conform to the standard of quality set by applicable law.
This bill would add a stove and refrigerator that are maintained in good working order and are capable of safely generating heat for cooking purposes and capable of safely storing food, respectively, to the list of characteristics required for the dwelling unit to be tenantable for leases entered into, amended, or extended on or after January 1, 2026. The bill would require a landlord to repair or replace a stove or refrigerator that is subject to recall by the manufacturer or a public entity within 30 days of receiving notice that the stove or refrigerator is subject to recall.
The bill would also authorize a tenant and landlord to mutually agree when the lease is signed if the tenant chooses to provide and maintain their own refrigerator, subject to certain conditions. The bill would prohibit the application of these new requirements for certain types of dwelling units, including permanent supportive housing, as defined.
Existing law authorizes a tenant to repair dilapidations rendering their premises untenantable if the landlord has neglected to repair those dilapidations, subject to certain conditions, or vacate the premises, as specified.
This bill would provide that the above-described requirement on a landlord to repair or replace a recalled stove or refrigerator does not prohibit a tenant from exercising any remedy authorized as described above.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF