# LA apartments don't come with Fridges. Oh my aching back. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 25, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856 "2017-06-25T19:38:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/1 "2017-06-25T19:38:22Z")
This has to really suck. A fridge is one household item that I absolutely refuse to move. We buy a new fridge and happily pay a delivery and haul away fee. I’m not risking a lifetime of pain wrestling a fridge out the door. My dad had two surgeries and wore a back brace for forty years. I’m very careful about lifting stuff. Why do people in LA put up with this archaic municipal code? I never owned a fridge until I bought my first house. > **[7 Everyday Experiences Other Countries Do Waaay Differently](https://www.cracked.com/article_24848_7-everyday-experiences-other-countries-do-waaay-differently.html)** > > There's always that ONE country. > [@](#): > > When you rent in L.A. you’re quite possibly going to have to cart your own fridge to your new place; 50 percent of apartments don’t come with them. They’re classed as an amenity by the city’s municipal code, so landlords aren’t required to provide them. Which means that whoever lived in your apartment before you had to haul theirs out of the place, and you’ve got to bring your own in, which has essentially turned the city of angels into a nomadic community of fridge-toting pack mules. > > This happens nowhere else in the country; in New York for example, a refrigerator is a legal requirement to rent out a property. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/2 "2017-06-25T19:48:41Z")
That is absurd. Moving a fridge from apartment to apartment will cost far more than just leaving them at an apartment. I wonder what the motivation is for this kind of law. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/3 "2017-06-25T19:50:54Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > That is absurd. Moving a fridge from apartment to apartment will cost far more than just leaving them at an apartment. > > I wonder what the motivation is for this kind of law. I’m going to guess ‘greed’. What do I win? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/4 "2017-06-25T19:52:25Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I’m going to guess ‘greed’. > What do I win? Yes but whose greed? Moving companies? Companies that sell refrigerators? Landlords? Also why has no other city or state passed this law? There has to be a reason. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/5 "2017-06-25T20:01:04Z")
I’m surprised so many homes are sold without a fridge. Thankfully some are. We plan to leave our fridge behind when it’s time to sell. It’s just not worth the hassle to move it. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/6 "2017-06-25T20:40:10Z")
It’s because some people like no-frills refrigerators while others want the fancy amenities: water fountain and ice maker… Some people like the side-by-side while others like the freezer on top… If someone wants an apartment with a refrigerator already available they can just choose one that has it and ignore the apartment rentals lacking a refrigerator. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/7 "2017-06-25T21:52:43Z")
Around here it’s assumed apartments have a basic fridge. Standard with freezer on top. I’d guess the management company buys a hundred of them after the building is built and they are preparing the apartments for rent. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/8 "2017-06-25T22:31:35Z")
Mine did. It was left by the previous tenant. I had to replace it eventually, and I left that one when I moved out. They charged me $75 to haul it away. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/9 "2017-06-25T23:45:06Z")
It’s not just rentals. When my family bought a house in L.A. in the 80s, there was no refrigerator. We had left ours behind in the old house on the east coast, like civilized people, and so we had to buy a new one. ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/10 "2017-06-25T23:48:27Z")
Never been to L.A. but maybe it has something to do with people dumping refrigerators in the alleyways or with their garbage? I know here in Chicago and many other places if you throw a refrigerator out you must remove the doors from both compartments (so kids and animals don’t get trapped). ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/11 "2017-06-26T00:17:45Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > … > > It’s just not worth the hassle to move it. This is what I don’t understand. Moving a refrigerator isn’t all that tough. Maybe if you are trying to do it by yourself without a two-wheeler (hand truck), although one person with a hand truck can handle it (I’ve done it many times). Oh, a pickup truck helps, too. Really, though, who is going to try to move themselves without at least a hand truck and a pickup? I’ve bought two houses (and rented one) and none of them came with a refrigerator (or a washer and dryer, either). If moving a refrigerator is going to wreck your back, what are going to do about that sleeper-sofa? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/12 "2017-06-26T00:31:12Z")
The Cracked link makes a claim that may be disputed (I know, what a surprise, eh?) – [Here is a site that states that NYC in fact does _ **not** _ legally mandate refrigerators](https://www.brickunderground.com/rent/do-NYC-landlords-have-to-provide-appliances), that it rather is an industry standard practice in that market. [This link from SFGate](http://homeguides.sfgate.com/landlords-provide-refrigerators-apartments-rent-57740.html) in the Bay Area states that the rule that appliances are not essential necessities is _California state law_, not Los Angeles - based. [This site that provides guidance to landlords](http://www.rentprep.com/property-maintenance/landlords-provide-appliances/) suggests that this is not a legal mandate in most of the country. For something more official, and outside Cali, there’s [this](http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/consumer-rights-and-resources/housing/tenant-and-landlord/landlord-rights.html) (underlined mine): > [@Massachussetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation](#): > > In each kitchen landlords must provide a sink sufficient for washing dishes and kitchen utensils, stove and oven in good working order, unless the written rental agreement states the tenant must provide this, and electrical hook-ups for installation of a refrigerator. The landlord is not required to provide a refrigerator, but if s/he does, it must be maintained by the landlord in good working order. (I can see how a stove/oven is a more likely requirement for standard equipment as it would require gas or high-load electrical installation so you’d want the landlord to be the one responsible for having that done to code.) > [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > It’s not just rentals. When my family bought a house in L.A. in the 80s, there was no refrigerator. We had left ours behind in the old house on the east coast, like civilized people, and so we had to buy a new one. And in the case of home \*buyers \*I can imagine a presumption that they’d want to equip the property with appliances of their choice. Around there if the house comes with the fridge it is a bonus from the developer (if new construction) or outgoing owner, or something you haggled for. All my apartments came with the refrigerator included – however that was something I deliberately sought out from the start when apartment-hunting, I never presumed they were required by some ordinance. If the law does not \*mandate \*a refrigerator, the landlord is free to include it. And hell yeah, if I need to get a refrigerator in or out of my home, I am paying either in cash or in beer (after the job is completed) for two able bodied persons to do it for me. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/13 "2017-06-26T00:50:48Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > This is what I don’t understand. Moving a refrigerator isn’t all that tough. Maybe if you are trying to do it by yourself without a two-wheeler (hand truck), although one person with a hand truck can handle it (I’ve done it many times). Oh, a pickup truck helps, too. > > Really, though, who is going to try to move themselves without at least a hand truck and a pickup? I’ve bought two houses (and rented one) and none of them came with a refrigerator (or a washer and dryer, either). If moving a refrigerator is going to wreck your back, what are going to do about that sleeper-sofa? Came in to say this. I’ve moved several fridges in my (younger) day, it’s not that big a deal as long as you have a hand cart. Now if you wanna talk about moving pianos… mmm ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/14 "2017-06-26T01:10:20Z")
I didn’t think it was legally required in most jurisdictions to provide appliances like refrigerators, but in the four states I’ve lived in it seems to be the standard practice. When I rented an apartment in South Africa it didn’t come with a fridge and we had to buy one. When we moved the “professional” movers broke it. I don’t have enough data points to guess what the standard practice was. I sort of assume there is a critical mass determining behavior that is difficult to move away from. Its mostly assumed that you’re going to have these appliances in the rental, and not have to lug around your own stove or fridge or whatever. So no renters own these things, and in a balanced market landlords have to provide these things to remain competitive. I’m a little surprised that in areas that are more of a “landlord’s market” we don’t see more cases of landlords not providing this, but I didn’t see it in Berkeley. I think if you do provide these appliances as a landlord it is on you to keep them working. One potential landlord in Sacramento tried to “gift” us the refrigerator. I suspect it was on its last legs and this was a way to avoid taking responsibility for fixing it. An about-to-break fridge is not on my wishlist (Amazon or otherwise) so we declined the offer. Also, it was one piece of evidence alongside with many that she would have been a pain to deal with, so we passed on the whole otherwise-quite-nice unit. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/15 "2017-06-26T05:33:41Z")
Not required or provided in either Japan or Taiwan. After I was introduced to her and she was told we were getting married, the very first question my MIL had for my wife was what was she going to do with her new fridge. My MIL was quite surprised, perhaps in shock, and assumed that we were going to move to the States. My wife had just bought a really nice, expensive fridge. We moved that to the new apartment and then our house in Japan, but didn’t bring it here to Taiwan. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/16 "2017-06-26T05:52:36Z")
They’re not standard in Israel, either. Here, an unfurnished apartment is an unfurnished apartment - floors, walls, ceilings; sinks, toilets, showers; cabinets, if the previous resident didn’t fell like taking them. The only electrical devices the landlord is responsible for are the air conditioning and the water heater. Personally, I’d rather not use someone else’s ratty old fridge or oven. I’m a grownup. I own my own appliances. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/17 "2017-06-26T07:17:53Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Mine did. It was left by the previous tenant. I had to replace it eventually, and I left that one when I moved out. They charged me $75 to haul it away. :mad: Twice mine did, too. But when we rented a house, we had to get one. In fact, most people I know haven’t had to bring their own refrigerator when moving to a new apartment. I don’t know how they got their data, but the Cracked article seems to be exaggerating from my experience–despite the law itself. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/18 "2017-06-26T07:26:50Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Came in to say this. I’ve moved several fridges in my (younger) day, it’s not that big a deal as long as you have a hand cart. > > Now if you wanna talk about moving pianos… > mmm Even better than a normal hand truck is a refrigerator dolly/appliance truck. They’ve got belts to wrap around and hold the fridge. It’s really no big deal to move one with a fridge dolly. I could do it myself if going downstairs or with an elevator. Going upstairs it’s no problem with two people. Back when I was in a touring band with its own P.A. (and no roadies) the four of us moved the equivalent of about 15 refrigerators twice a week. Had to do it super fast, too. Don’t complain about refrigerators… try moving amp racks or huge bass scoops! ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/19 "2017-06-26T08:47:58Z")
This is BS. I’ve had a few apts in Lis Angeles and all have come with refrigerators. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856/20 "2017-06-26T14:29:05Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > And in the case of home \*buyers \*I can imagine a presumption that they’d want to equip the property with appliances of their choice. Around there if the house comes with the fridge it is a bonus from the developer (if new construction) or outgoing owner, or something you haggled for. Perhaps, but I think it’s unusual as compared to the rest of the US not to leave the fridge behind. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-apartments-dont-come-with-fridges-oh-my-aching-back/789856.md?page=2)