Who Is Responsible For Making Repairs?
In California, landlords are required to ensure that a rental unit is kept in good condition and complaint with state and local building and health codes; further, landlords are required to make any and all necessary repairs on rental unit, in a timely manner, to ensure they remain complaint with state and local building and health codes, regardless of whether or not a lease agreement is in effect between a Landlord and Tenant.
Which Repairs Are My Landlord Responsible For?
According to California Civil Code Section 1941.1, a landlord must ensure:
- Effective waterproofing and weather protection
- Plumbing or gas facilities, maintained in good working order
- A water supply, capable of producing hot and cold running water
- Heating facilities, maintained in good working order
- Electrical lighting, with wiring and electrical equipment, maintained in good working order
- An adequate number of appropriate receptacles for garbage and rubbish
- Floors, stairways, and railings maintained in good repair
- Building, grounds, and appurtenances at the time of the commencement of the lease or rental agreement, and all areas under control of the landlord, kept in every part clean, sanitary, and free from all accumulations of debris, filth, rubbish, garbage, rodents, and vermin
Which Repairs Are My Landlord NOT Responsible For?
- Damage to a rental property, caused by the Tenant, their guests, or their pets, outside of normal wear-and-tear
Additionally:
A Tenant is responsible for ensuring they are complaint with the "Tenant's Duty of Habitability", laid out accordingly in California Civil Code Section 1941.2. Specifically, a landlord may not be responsible for repairing damages or dilapidation if a Tenant is found to be in substantial violation in maintaining the property, or if the tenant is found to have contributed substantially to the bad conditions of said property.