California continues to wrestle with a high cost of living, from the nation’s most expensive gas prices to a housing market that’s left many working families stretched thin. In an effort to ease some of that burden, state lawmakers are now considering a bill that would require landlords to provide refrigerators in all rental units.
Assembly Bill 628, introduced by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Hawthorne), would make refrigerators a standard requirement for residential rentals across the state. The legislation would also hold landlords responsible for maintaining and repairing the appliances, potentially saving tenants hundreds — or even thousands — in unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.
Supporters say the proposal is a step toward fairness, noting that other essentials like stoves and heaters are already required in rental housing. But like with any well-intentioned policy, the question is whether there could be unintended consequences.
Landlords may ultimately pass the cost onto tenants through rent increases. The pace of that shift, however, depends on local laws. In Los Angeles, for instance, rent control ordinances limit how much and how often rent can go up. Elsewhere in the state, landlords could make pricing adjustments more quickly.
Higher operating costs for landlords also carry the risk of ripple effects. Some may scale back on general maintenance or delay upgrades to their properties to offset the new expenses. Others may reconsider investing in long-term rentals altogether. With California already facing a housing shortage — analysts estimate the state needs 2 million additional units to meet demand — critics argue that policies adding new financial pressure could further slow construction and reduce supply. There’s also concern that it could push more property owners to convert units into short-term rentals, which often bypass traditional tenant protections.
Whether this bill becomes law or not, it highlights a larger question facing the state: how to balance affordability for renters without pushing landlords out of the market entirely. In the end, it’s a reminder that even policies aimed at helping tenants can come with tradeoffs — and someone always ends up footing the bill.
