Repairs, Appliances and Safety Devices: California Owner Guide
A practical look at the home, the deadlines and the details that matter to a safe rental.
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Good care lives in the details.
General information about California law, not legal advice. City rent control and local rules can change the answer. Updated November 1, 2026. RNB Property Management, DRE license #01900856.
A livable home. Not an optional extra.
Every residential tenancy has a warranty of habitability. The home must substantially meet building and housing codes affecting health and safety, regardless of what the lease says.
A tenant cannot sign this protection away. “Rented as-is” does not remove it.
The stove + fridge belong on your radar.
For leases signed, amended or extended on or after January 1, 2026, a stove and refrigerator are required.
Recalled appliance? The clock is specific.
A recalled stove or refrigerator must be repaired or replaced within 30 days of notice.
after notice is presumed reasonable
Urgent problems need attention sooner.
Thirty days is not a universal safe waiting period. The seriousness of the problem matters.
Repair and deduct: a conditional remedy
After that period, a tenant may in some cases repair a serious problem and deduct the cost, up to one month’s rent, no more than twice in 12 months. This is not a blanket right to make repairs and deduct rent.
Small devices. Essential protections.
Smoke alarms
Every rented home needs working, State Fire Marshal-approved smoke alarms, checked when the tenancy starts.
Fines can reach $200 per offense.
Carbon monoxide devices
A CO device is required when the home has a fossil-fuel heater or appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage.
Entry doors + opening windows
Each main swinging entry door needs a working dead bolt with a bolt at least 13/16 inch long. Windows that open need working locks or security devices.
Plan the visit. Respect the notice.
written notice is presumed reasonable
No written notice is needed if the tenant agrees at the time, or orally agrees to a repair visit within one week. These exceptions are not a blanket right of entry.
Different damage. Different obligations.
Since January 1, 2026, the owner must remove disaster debris and deal with smoke, ash, mold and water hazards within a reasonable time after a declared disaster.
to refund prepaid rent if the property is destroyed
The moving parts, managed with you.
- 01
One team to contact
When RNB manages your rental, tenants report repairs to our team.
- 02
Licensed vendors, coordinated
We send licensed vendors and keep you informed.
- 03
You stay part of the decision
We request your approval before larger work.
or call (916) 435-2424 The questions owners ask.
The short answer matters. So do the conditions that go with it.
Do I need to provide a stove and refrigerator?
Yes, for leases signed, amended or extended on or after January 1, 2026. The lease date and those changes are the triggers, not every unchanged older lease.
Do I always have 30 days to make a repair?
No. Thirty days after notice is presumed reasonable, but urgent problems need attention sooner.
How much notice is needed for a repair visit?
Twenty-four hours' written notice is presumed reasonable. Written notice is not needed if the tenant agrees at the time or orally agrees to a repair visit within one week.