Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

As a tenant i am being charged for the use of my oven and refrig, when i entered in the home the owner told me that the appliances were not his and that the previous tenants left the appliances becouse they owed him money and so they left him the appliances as payment, then he asked if i made my own appliances, i told him i had none and so he then said well i can leave these here and rent them out to you for a fee, since i was in a bind and had no oven or ice box i agreed. a friend told me that the owner took advantage of me and what he is doing is illegal. he is charging me 35

dollars a month and there seems to be no end to that agreement and im on a very fixed income and he knows im strained for cash as it is all my money does to my bills including this fee. So, is he taking advantage of me? and what can i do legally, within my rights as a tenant so this doesnt happen again?


Asked on 10/02/09, 2:22 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Landlords are only obligated to provide working heat, water and hot water fixtures and appliances. If this landlord leases his properties without a stove and refridgerator, but is willing to rent appliances separately to tenants, and you as a tenant agree to that, there is nothing illegal. You can rent them from him, or go buy your own, or see if one of these appliance rental places can rent them to you cheaper.

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Answered on 10/02/09, 6:25 pm


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