A new law signed by Gavin Newsom adds requirements for a Rental housing is considered habitable in California. The regulation, which comes into force on January 1, 2026, stipulates that owners must ensure that the The property has a refrigerator and a stove in good condition in order to be able to rent it out, which directly benefits the tenants.
The change will be ordered in the Law AB 628. The rule amends the California Civil Code Habitability of rental properties. Specifically, new requirements are set for devices that the owner must provide.
Previously, the presence of a refrigerator in a rental property was considered a amenity. So if the unit doesn’t have one, the tenant will have to cover the cost of purchasing it.
That will change from January 1, 2026. Since this date Owners who want to rent a house must ensure that it has:
The California law applies to all properties until Exception for social housing and residential hotels or rental properties where rooms with a shared kitchen are rented out.
In addition, in the event that A refrigerator or stove model is facing a recallthe owner will have that Obligation to replace it within 30 days. The period begins on the date of notification of the exclusion of the product.
Over and beyond AB 628 If the law imposes on owners the obligation to provide these devices in order for an apartment to be habitable and rentable, this does not exclude the possibility of an agreement.
In case that The tenant wants to buy his refrigerator or move it to the propertyis capable of this. The regulations enable both contracting parties to agree on this at the time of signing the contract under certain conditions:
In addition to AB 628, January 1, 2026 also applies AB 246 goes into effectThe prohibits eviction processes for tenants who find themselves in a certain situation of economic vulnerability.
Special, temporarily stops eviction processes for tenants receiving social security benefits and that they have some late payment of these orders. For the rule to apply, the delay must be the responsibility of the federal government and not that of the beneficiary.
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