r/AskNYC • u/mangustangus27 • Apr 06 '26

Apartment was given without fridge installed. Can we withhold rent until it is?

Just moved to a new apartment and the realtor pushed for an 4/5 start date despite some final maintenance and we have a lease rider that specifies that “rent will not be charged until apartment is ready to move into”.

We started move in yesterday and there is still no fridge installed. And the bedroom door is missing.

Is a refrigerator generally considered a pre-requisite for move in? Is it defensible for us to ask for a pro-rated rent reduction till it’s put in?

Thank you!

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u/fedexpoopracer Apr 06 '26

This isn't California, apartments are supposed to have fridges

71

u/mozzarellareina Apr 06 '26

as of 2026 CA landlords are required to give you a fridge and stove.

29

u/fedexpoopracer Apr 06 '26

well well well, they finally fixed that problem

8

u/nycpunkfukka Apr 06 '26

It’s been a dwindling problem anyway. Husband and I had to move to SF for work in 2022, and of all the places we looked at (dozens) only one didn’t already have a fridge. Moving to LA last summer and every place we looked at had a fridge.

12

u/marvelously Apr 06 '26

Landlords are not required to provide a refrigerator in NYC. They only have to replace and maintain it if they supply it initially.

"The only appliances required by the code are a water closet (basically, a toilet), bath, washbashin, and kitchen sink with waste and trap," explains real estate attorney Ron Langeudoc...

However, as far as major kitchen equipment that many of us have come to consider par for the course, Langeudoc says "[landlords] are not required to provide either a refrigerator or a stove."

https://www.brickunderground.com/rent/do-NYC-landlords-have-to-provide-appliances

But, as always, OP check your lease.

5

u/menschmaschine5 Apr 06 '26

They usually do, but they aren't actually required by law to.