If you know the law, nobody can bluff you and you can be confident in your negotiations.I think you should consider that CA is a huge state, and LA and SF are but a tiny part of the state. 

At minimum, it might prove to be a good bluff :-)Take it to his broker, if necessary. 

And if you also know the law, they can't bluff you. 

I think sometimes some social workers bluff landlords into thinking they need to take any disabled tenant or even a homeless applicant. 

“I hate to move but I’ve found a home for the same price or a little less that has a working dishwasher and I really need one...” but don’t bluff/lie.

Bluff them back.  

But, I'd call her bluff and just tell her, gee, I'm so sorry, but I just don't have the money to fix it to the standard you want, so I'm just going to have to give you notice to move out, and then work on getting the unit up to snuff.Then, watch her change her tune. 

You can very nicely, and kindly call their bluff.  

I used to have to call tenants' bluffs.  

If you call their bluff, but remain calm and diplomatic, in my experience, they give it up.