February 3, 2015

What should Landlords Know about Appliances?

Landlord

As a landlord, there are a lot of tidbits of knowledge and know how you need to have. For example, it is your responsibility to know how to maintain the unit you are renting. One big area of renting houses and apartments that a landlord needs to have knowledge and experience in is appliances. The more a landlord knows about appliances, the better a landlord the individual intends to be. After all, being able to repair a washer or install a new water heater is a great way to save money.

What Are Appliances, Anyway?

An appliance is all the little extra equipment that comes with a house or apartment when you rent it. This can include (but is not limited to) the following:

  • Stove/Oven
  • Freezer
  • Fridge
  • Dishwasher
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Microwave
  • Water Heater
  • Furnace

What appliances come with a unit for rent tends to vary pretty greatly. Any appliance that comes with a rental property is the responsibility of the landlord. In theory, this means a landlord needs to a significant amount about every appliance in the unit they rent.

This does not mean you should consider cutting back on the appliances you offer in a rental space. After all, potential renters do not really like seeing rental spaces that lack some of the major appliances.

Does a Landlord Have to Supply Appliances?

There are no laws in place requiring a landlord to supply their tenants with appliances. In fact, there are very few appliances needed to make a house or apartment a safe place to live. As long as you supply working electrical, plumbing and a heating system, it’s actually possible to make the tenant responsible for everything else.

While the area regarding the relationship between landlords and appliances is somewhat grey, it is pretty rare to find a rental property containing no appliances at all.