Q. Is a landlord obligated to make repairs in a rental unit?
A. The California Civil Code, section 1941, makes a landlord responsible for maintaining a rental unit in livable condition, unless the tenant caused the damage.
Q. What is a livable (tenantable) condition?
A. A rental unity is NOT livable if it substantially lacks any of the following:
– Roof, walls and windows that do not leak
– Working plumbing or gas facilities
– Water supply of hot and cold running water connected to a sewage disposal system
– Heating system that works
– Electrical lighting and wiring in working order – Building and grounds kept clean, sanitary, and free from garbage, rodents, and vermin
– Adequate number of garbage cans or dumpsters in good repair
– Floors, stairways and railing in good repair
While I’m not sure your mice are enough to get over the hurdle of ‘substantially lacking’, you could drop ‘Section 1941 violation’ in your next conversation and see what happens.
