No Heat, Mold, Roaches: What Each Major Habitability Defect Requires

The big three tenant complaints each carry their own legal standards and their own evidence playbook. Here is what actually moves landlords, inspectors, and judges on each.

What California Law Says

Heating capable of maintaining habitable temperature is a statutory essential; dampness and visible mold are enumerated substandard conditions under the Health and Safety Code; and vermin infestations breach both the Civil Code baseline and local housing codes. Each supports the full remedy set once documented and noticed.

How to Protect Yourself, Step by Step

1. Heat: log indoor temperatures with dated photos of a thermometer; report in writing immediately — cold units are emergency-tier.
2. Mold: photograph growth and moisture sources, report leaks in writing, and request inspection; keep medical records if symptoms follow.
3. Pests: photograph evidence and droppings, keep the unit clean to defeat blame-shifting, and demand professional treatment of the building, not just your unit.
4. For each: written notice, reasonable time, then escalation through code enforcement.
5. Preserve everything — these three defects drive the largest rent reductions and damage awards.

Common Questions

The landlord sprayed my unit once and the roaches returned. Compliant?

Building-level infestations require building-level treatment — a single courtesy spray does not discharge the duty, and the recurrence is your evidence.

The landlord blames my housekeeping for the mold. Standard move?

Standard and beatable — moisture intrusion is structural, and your photos of the leak, the inspector’s findings, and the repair history answer it.