The promise built into every lease
The implied warranty of habitability is a rule under California law that says every residential rental must be safe and fit to live in — even if your lease never mentions it. "Implied" means the promise is automatic: the landlord cannot remove it, and you do not have to bargain for it.
It comes from a California Supreme Court decision (Green v. Superior Court) and from state law, including California Civil Code Section 1941.1. Together they require landlords to keep rentals livable, with working plumbing, heat, hot and cold water, safe electrical, weather protection, and freedom from pests, among other things.
In plain terms, your landlord must give you a home that meets a basic safety and health standard and keep it that way during your tenancy — not just on the day you move in. When a landlord ignores serious problems after being told about them, they may be breaking this warranty. Sorting out whether your situation crosses that line is something we can help with at no cost.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.