As of late 2025, several important California laws have either been newly enacted or will soon take effect, covering both real-estate transactions and rental housing. Whether you’re buying, selling, leasing, or managing property, these are changes you should know about now.
AB 628 — Stove & Refrigerator Required in Rental Units
(Effective Jan 1, 2026)
AB 628 updates California’s minimum habitability requirements.
Starting January 1, 2026, any California lease (new, renewed, or amended) must include:
- A working stove, and
- A working refrigerator
Sources:
California Apartment Association (CAA)
https://caanet.org/new-law-requires-a-working-stove-and-refrigerator-in-rental-units/
LegiScan – Full Bill Text
https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB628/id/3269437
Why it matters:
What used to be optional is now legally required.
A stove and refrigerator are now part of mandatory habitability, and landlords must comply statewide.
SB 382 — Seller Disclosure of Gas-Appliance Replacement & Electrical/Wiring Advisory (Effective Jan 1, 2026)
SB 382 requires sellers of 1–4 unit residential properties to provide buyers with:
- A written advisory recommending professional inspection of the home’s electrical panel, wiring, sub-panels, and overall electrical capacity
- Disclosure of any state or local requirements mandating future replacement of gas-powered appliances included in the sale
Sources:
LegiScan – Full Bill Text https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB382/id/3022248
Digital Democracy / CalMatters Bill Summary
https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202320240sb382
Why it matters:
Buyers get better safety and upgrade information.
Sellers/agents face increased liability for failing to disclose correctly.
Continued: Tenant Protections Under AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019)
AB 1482 remains the statewide rent-cap and eviction-control law.
It limits:
- Rent increases to 5% + CPI (max 10%)
- Evictions to “just cause” once a tenant has 12+ months of occupancy
Sources:
City & County of San Francisco – AB 1482 Summary
https://www.sf.gov/reports–california-tenant-protection-act-2019-ab-1482
LeaseRunner Summary
https://www.leaserunner.com/laws/california-rent-control-laws
Why it matters:
Landlords must comply with statewide rent caps + just-cause rules.
Tenants retain consistent protections throughout California.
Need Help Navigating These New Laws? Contact Us at (415) 823-4566
At TRN Law Associates, we stay ahead of regulatory changes so you don’t have to. Whether you’re a buyer, seller, landlord, tenant, investor, broker, or property manager, or you’re dealing with nondisclosure claims, habitability disputes, evictions, purchase-and-sale issues, or commercial real-estate matters, we ensure your compliance is thorough, accurate, and up to date.
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