As 2025 came to a close, California concluded a pivotal year in housing legislation with new tenant protection measures that promise to significantly reshape the state’s rental landscape. The most visible change, set to take effect on January 1, 2026, is a statewide mandate requiring landlords to provide working stoves and refrigerators in all newly signed or renewed residential leases. This update to California’s housing code redefines the standard for habitability, aligning everyday expectations of rental living with the legal responsibilities of housing providers.
Under the new law, signed earlier in the year as Assembly Bill 628, landlords must include functional kitchen appliances as a default provision in residential rentals. Previously, these items were often considered amenities rather than requirements, leaving many tenants—especially in older apartment buildings—to supply their own appliances. In some cases, renters bore the cost of moving or purchasing large items simply to maintain a livable space. The updated law seeks to standardize what renters can expect in their homes and reduce financial burdens for tenants already facing some of the highest housing costs in the country.
California’s housing officials and tenant advocates have framed the move as a long-overdue correction to a gap in habitability standards. In cities like Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Diego, where rents have continued to outpace wages, the cost of securing basic appliances was frequently cited by renters as a source of hardship. By making appliances a legal requirement, the state is aiming not only to improve baseline living standards but also to reinforce the message that tenants deserve safe, functional, and fully equipped homes. For families living paycheck to paycheck, this mandate could mean hundreds of dollars saved on upfront moving costs.
Importantly, the law includes flexibility. If a tenant already owns a refrigerator or stove, they may choose to continue using their own equipment, provided the lease includes language clearly transferring responsibility for maintenance and repair. This clause aims to preserve tenant choice while establishing clear boundaries of accountability between landlords and renters. It also allows for case-by-case arrangements without compromising the integrity of the new standard.
While the appliance requirement is garnering headlines, it is only one part of a broader transformation in California’s rental policy. In 2025, lawmakers and housing advocates expanded protections in several other key areas, including rent control enforcement, eviction safeguards, and local transparency rules around lease terms. These measures build on the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019, which set statewide caps on rent increases and defined “just cause” eviction standards. This framework has become increasingly central to the state’s housing strategy as more tenants demand stability in a volatile market.
Across California, cities have implemented additional rules reinforcing these trends. Municipalities like San Francisco, Berkeley, and Santa Monica strengthened local enforcement of rent limits and enacted ordinances that tighten timelines for the return of security deposits and require landlords to provide documentation during evictions. Some areas also introduced measures to improve protections for vulnerable tenants, including survivors of domestic violence and low-income seniors. These local policies mirror the state’s broader commitment to fairness and housing access, particularly for renters at risk of displacement.
Property owners and management companies have had to adjust quickly. In preparation for the new appliance standards, many landlords began retrofitting older units and revising lease agreements to comply with the law. Some property owners expressed concern about the financial and logistical implications of the changes, particularly in older buildings not originally designed with kitchen appliance hookups. These concerns have sparked ongoing dialogue about how best to implement the law equitably while ensuring it achieves its intended effect.
In response, housing authorities have pledged to provide updated guidance, compliance support, and technical assistance to help landlords meet the new standards. Local governments, including housing departments and rent control boards, are also expected to play a role in monitoring implementation, handling tenant complaints, and resolving disputes related to habitability. Tenants who encounter noncompliance will be able to pursue remedies under the state’s updated tenant rights laws.
The broader context of these reforms is California’s ongoing struggle with housing affordability and supply. The state’s rental market remains among the most expensive in the nation, and rising costs have left many Californians rent-burdened or displaced. Policymakers hope that by focusing on tenant protections and raising minimum standards, they can begin to rebalance the power dynamic between renters and property owners while improving living conditions across a diverse and economically strained housing landscape.
As 2026 begins, the implementation of AB 628 and related housing reforms will be closely watched by stakeholders across the board—from tenants and advocacy groups to property owners and local officials. The success of these measures may serve as a bellwether for future housing policy both within California and in other high-cost states exploring similar reforms.
In a year marked by inflation, cost-of-living pressures, and rising awareness of housing insecurity, California’s end-of-year legislative shift signals a broader trend toward elevating housing as a public good. The promise of a working stove and refrigerator may seem basic, but for thousands of renters across the state, it marks a meaningful step toward dignity, stability, and equity in everyday life.
