In California, Under California Civil Code §1941.1 and related statutes, tenants may withhold rent (pay after landlord fixes) if the landlord fails to fix any of the following
- No hot or cold running water or nonfunctional plumbing
- Unsafe electrical wiring or lighting
- Sewage backups or lack of sewage disposal
- Infestations of rats, cockroaches, bed bugs, or other vermin
- Structural hazards like broken stairways, collapsing ceilings, or loose railings
- Lead paint hazards or exposed wiring
- No working smoke or carbon monoxide detectors
- No locking doors or windows (security risk)
- No trash receptacles or unsanitary common areas
- Persistent dampness or visible mold in habitable rooms
- Lack of a functioning kitchen sink or toilet
- Nuisances that endanger health or safety (e.g. drug activity on premises)
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