Landlords in California will have new obligations from 2026 due to a law that will change what was considered basic inside a rental home. For many years many people who rented a house had to buy their own refrigerator or their own stove, which could make them spend a lot and experience difficult situations (mostly in California where rent is very expensive).
Now, a new law aims to ease life for renters by requiring owners to provide these appliances before renting out any house. So, let’s see what else this law says.
The new law
It’s called Assembly Bill 628 and it will be applied in January 2026. The main point of this law is to make sure every renting house has two essential appliances: a functioning stove and refrigerator.
Before this law, these appliances didn’t have to be inside the house once it was rented. Some landlords decided to provide them, but because it was their choice, others didn’t. Now, this law requires them to install them before any renter can move.
With this rule, stoves and refrigerators are now part of what the state calls “standard characteristics.” This means they are considered basic items that every rental home must have, just like plumbing, hot water, electrical lighting, and heating systems.
The reason for this change
California is one of the states with the most expensive rents in the country. According to data from Zillow, the average rent is about $2,800 per month, which is nearly 37% higher than the national average. Somewhere where the cost of living is so high, having to buy a stove or a refrigerator can mean an economic effort for the renter.
The creator of the bill, California State Assembly member Tina McKinnor, explained that a stove and a refrigerator are not luxuries, but basic needs for everyday life. People need them to cook and store food safely.
McKinnor hopes this law makes California homes safer, more affordable, and more dignified for all renters; especially for those facing difficulties due to the high costs of living in the state.
How this law affects landlords
The law has a direct impact on landlords, since they are the ones who must meet the new obligations. From January 1 of 2026, landlords must install a stove and a refrigerator that properly function before renting out any house. This applies when a tenant::
- Signs a new lease.
- Renews an existing lease.
- Changes or updates a lease after January 1.
Before this change, landlords only had to provide basic services like heating, plumbing, hot water, electrical lighting, and safe living conditions. The new law adds stoves and refrigerators to the list of things that are considered necessary for a home to be livable.
Not all houses
Even though most renting houses must follow the new law, there are some exceptions. The law won’t be applied to these types of properties:
- Permanent supportive housing.
- Single-room occupancy units, which only have enough space for one person to sleep.
- Residential hotel units.
- Residential hotel units where tenants share a kitchen.
These types of housing work differently from standard apartments, which is why they are excluded from the requirement.
To sum up
Assembly Bill 628 brings an important change to rental housing in California whose goal is to improve the living conditions of renters in a state where housing is extremely expensive.
What do you think about this new law? Do you think it’s fair and helpful for renters? I’m sure many people in California will be thankful for this change since they won’t have to spend more money to move to California.