The duty beyond your four walls
Yes. Common areas — hallways, stairwells, shared laundry rooms, building entrances, and walkways — must be kept clean, safe, and in good repair under California law. A landlord's duty to maintain a livable property extends beyond the four walls of your unit.
Broken stairs, loose or missing railings, poor lighting in a stairwell, blocked exits, or pest problems in shared spaces can all be habitability issues. They can also create a real risk of injury. If a dangerous condition in a common area is reported and the landlord does not fix it within a reasonable time, the landlord may be responsible both for the condition and for any harm it causes.
If you are dealing with unsafe shared spaces in your building, it helps to report the problem in writing and take dated photos. Should someone be hurt because a known hazard went unrepaired, that documentation can matter a great deal. We are glad to review a situation like this at no cost.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.