This article was posted on Saturday, Dec 13, 2025
- Stoves and Refrigerators Must Be Supplied in All Newly-Leased Apartments: CA AB628 amended CA CC1941.1, which covers all habitability requirements for residential rentals.
- This appliance requirement applies to all new, renewed/extended or amended leases.
- Landlords and tenants may mutually agree at lease signing that the renter will provide and maintain their own refrigerator. This agreement must be clearly stated in the lease, with specific language stating that renters retain the right to request that the landlord provide a refrigerator with 30 days’ written notice from the renter. Landlords cannot require tenants to provide their own refrigerator as a condition of tenancy. If a tenant chooses to provide their own refrigerator the landlord will not be required to maintain it.
- AB 246 – Social Security Hardship Defense: This statute provides that if the tenant pays the rent with Social Security income, and the payments are delayed for some reason beyond the renter’s control, the renter cannot be evicted for nonpayment of rent while that payment disruption is in place, up to a period of 180 days. The law also provides that the tenant must pay all unpaid rent within fourteen days of getting the Social Security payments restored.
- Security Deposit Deductions and Pre-Exit Walkthrough: If a pre-exit inspection is conducted at the renter’s request after being informed of that right, and, at the time of inspection, the premises do not contain renter’s possessions that prevent the landlord from identifying needed repairs or cleaning due to the presence of those possessions, the landlord shall not use the security for deductions for repairs or cleanings that are not identified in the itemized statement. Anything not noticed or listed during the pre-exit walkthrough can’t be charged/deducted from the security deposit. Take pictures. If renter’s belongings obstructed the damaged or dirty areas, the landlord may charge for those repairs or cleaning. 1If the renter declines the pre-exit walkthrough, this restriction does not apply. Landlords are also required to take pictures of the unit before move-in, after move-out (before any repairs/cleaning are performed), and after all repairs and cleaning have been completed. This amended CA CC1950.5.
- New Security Deposit Return Rules: If the renter paid the security deposit electronically, they must be given the option of having the refund returned electronically. The security deposit disposition may be sent by email, if that is the renter’s preference. If there are multiple adult lessees, landlords must specifically request direction as to how the deposit is to be apportioned and delivered. If no direction is given, landlords must include all lessees on one check and mail it to one of the former lessees. This amended CA CC1950.5.
- Management Can’t Force Renters to Pay Them for Internet or Phone Service: AB 1414 mandates that landlords are required to give new and existing residential tenants the opportunity to opt out of paying for any subscription from a third-party internet service provider for wired internet, cellular or satellite service offered in connection with the tenancy. Note that even if devices can connect to the internet service wirelessly, this law may still apply. If renters are not allowed to opt out, or if they’re charged the fee after they’ve opted out, the renter would be entitled to deduct the cost of the subscription from the rent. Obviously, if a renter exercises their right to opt out, they cannot be retaliated against.
- Oakland Banked Rent Reform: While not a state statute, but a local ordinance, this revision to Oakland’s rules about rent increases based on ‘banking’ was included since many AOA members are affected. It basically reduces the past-year banking period from ten years to five years, beginning January 1, 2026 (meaning any affected rent increase would need to take effect by the end of 2025, rather than being served during that period). Currently, owners who had not imposed an annual rent increase on tenants, as permitted by the Oakland rental adjustment program (RAP), had the option of imposing those increases going back ten years. That right is now limited to five years.
