Hiring of real property: dwellings: untenantability.

Assembly Member McKinnor's rental housing legislation expands California's habitability standards to include functioning stoves and refrigerators for leases initiated or modified after January 1, 2026. The measure adds these appliances to the existing list of characteristics required for a dwelling to be considered legally tenantable, mandating that they be maintained in good working order and capable of safely performing their intended functions.

Under the new requirements, landlords must repair or replace any stove or refrigerator subject to manufacturer or public entity recall within 30 days of receiving notice. Tenants retain their existing rights to make repairs themselves and deduct costs from rent if landlords fail to address issues. The legislation allows tenants and landlords to mutually agree that tenants may provide and maintain their own refrigerators, with landlords bearing no responsibility for tenant-owned appliances.

The measure includes targeted exemptions for specific housing types, including permanent supportive housing, single-room occupancy units, residential hotels, and facilities with shared kitchen spaces. These carve-outs recognize the distinct operational models of these housing arrangements while maintaining the core protections for standard rental units.