tell me if you think this seems fair, our income property was without washer/dryer when we rented out our house to a couple and their two kids, when i heard they were shlepping their laundry to the washateria i BOUGHT a set for the house and had them delivered, the set is used and i wanted to make it clear to them that the washer/dryers were not part of the lease and we would not be legally obligated to repair them during their stay there, and that their repair would be at my discretion, am i wrong? They are arguing this with me. Should i get the washer/dryers out of the house, it seems like they are ungrateful. I didnt have to put them there.
**oh and im not expecting them to fix them if they break, i just wanted to make it clear that we werent obligated to repair them in a timely fashion, like the covered appliances
* also failed to mention that every cent they are paying in rent is going back into the house, we were strapped for cash on repairs, they knew we had financial difficulties, they signed an as-is lease and accepted a huge rent decrease based on the fact the house was less than perfect Lately i feel as if they are not taking great care of our stuff there, upon inspection of this house, this is why i told them about our liabilities. Id like to keep it civil, is that possible?
**oh and im not expecting them to fix them if they break, i just wanted to make it clear that we werent obligated to repair them in a timely fashion, like the covered appliances
What's in their lease? If it's not in the lease, then it's on them if they want to use it and fix it if something happens to it. They don't have to use it right?
You tried to do a good deed, they are being ungrateful. Get the washer/dryer out of the house.
We have rental property. It has a washer and dryer. I expect at some time that they will break down (they are each ten years old and were our first set). I expect to shoulder the cost of either fixing or replacing them when the time comes.
You are basically saying, "Hey, I feel sorry for you. So here are a washer or dryer but please don't depend on them to work and if they break, well if I feel like it, I might fix it."
It certainly should not about whether or not they are grateful, No, you did not have to put them there but the relationship you have with your tenants is important. When my tenants moved in we told them that we would provide a gardening service. They asked if it was alright if they paid to use their own service. Nice that I don't have to pay for that and it makes me want to make sure they are happy because they are taking good care of my property.
By the way, the laws in California really are in favor for the renters, I don't know how they are in TX but I would be careful. If you have a washer and dryer set it might be implied that you would care for them too. After all, they belong to you.
Good luck, good renters are hard to find. If this family is great in all the other areas (paying on time, etc) I would go ahead and fix the appliances when needed. You are nickel and diming people who probably don't have a dime to spare. And do you really want to advertise and look for new tenants?
OK--so out of the goodness of your heart you provided them with on-site laundry appliance and they are arguing that IF they break YOU need to pay for repair asap? HOGWASH!
What an attitude of entitlement!
I'd tell them they're going to be removed if they don't agree to (and sign a paper stating so) that you are not obligated to repair these two appliances). Then they can feel free to purchase them from you if they still want them on the premises.
That's nuts. When I rented and a washer in the basement broke--I replaced at my own expense and then took it when I moved.
If I were a tenant in a home with no washer and dryer I'd have tried to get my hands on my own, which I would have to end up repairing myself so it wouldn't bother me but I have a support network of family to help me in those kinds of situations. However I can see how a tenant would be bitter that they are responsible for repairing a couple old used washer and dryers that they have no vested interest in at all. They didn't get to pick them out and they don't get to take them when they leave so they should also not be required to repair them.
When they take their laundry to the laundromat they put in their quarters and wash their clothes. If the machine breaks down on them, they don't have to shell out a fortune to repair the broken machine. Repairing washing machines is NOT cheap. Sometimes the repairs cost more than the stupid contraptions did when they were NEW!
If I were renting from you and you put those in the home with the stipulation that you were not responsible for repairs then I would gratefully use them until they broke and then start going to the laundromat again and not dumping my limited funds into a couple of contraptions I didn't own.
Take the washer & dryer out. If the leasees are this much of a hassle, then what's to say that they won't just destroy the washing machines on purpose and then say "well they weren't part of the lease."
If you put things back the way they were, then maybe things can just go back to before - where they paid their rent and they hauled their wash to the laundromat. So much for you trying to be nice.
I don't know about the legalities of it all, but as far as fairness is concerned...
I think it was very nice of you to do that for them. We rented 5 different homes in 5 different states during my husband's military career. None of those homes came with a washer and dryer. We supplied our own. I would suggest at the least you get it in writing signed by them that you are not responsible for the repairs on the units.
I assume you pay the water bill, like I do. My tenants do not have rights to laundry here in the building. If you have a lease and the lease indicates you are responsible to appliances provided--maintenance--then you would. You should make an amendment to the lease and include the dates you put in the washer and dryer. In the amendment, you can indicate that you will not be responsible for maintenance and repair. If they refuse to sign it, then take them out. One thing though is you definitely want to inspect them from time to time to make sure there is no chance of a fire or cracks in the hoses for the washer so you don't end up with flooding.
We are renting and everywhere we lived before, we rented with the washer/dryer, sometimes coin operated and the landlord was responsible for repairs.
Our current home there is a 20 year old washer/dryer with the same policy as you have: you break it, you replace it. A month onto our lease the dryer broke! Now we have to repair or replace a 20 year old dryer that won't even be ours to keep. Fortunately our landlord agreed that we replace it with a used one, so we don't have to go all out and spend $400 on replacing a $50, 20 year old appliance.
I would have been happy to provide our own appliances to take with us when we leave, but what do you do with the ones already there? Our landloard wasn't hauling them away...!
As a renter I would say, either be responsible for the machines, or take them out. At least they have an option of putting in their own then...nothing sucks more than being held responsible for someone else's used stuff!
Good luck!
If they aren't included in the lease, you aren't obligated. I would either draw up a new lease with your specifications, or else take them back out. You did them a favor, and they are being ungrateful. You are pretty much giving them appliances to use, and saying "here, you can use these! But if they break, you will have to go back to the washateria until I can get them fixed at my own convenience." I could understand having a problem if you expected them to fix it, but not having a problem with having to wait for them to be repaired... especially when the alternative is not having them at all. I would LOVE for you to be my landlord!!! :D
I lived in a home that did not have a w/d but there was the hook up for them we saved and bought our own. In the home we are in currently we own all of the appliances accept the dw. if it breaks oh well it wont be replaced by the LL but if we replace it its ours to take with us. If its an issue take the w/d out it was not there in the beginning. There is no reason that they could not go out and get used equipment. You should not be on the hook for it, its a luxary item not a necessity.
My opinion is, if you put them in - you are responsible. It was kind of you to supply the w/d but now they are *yours* and not theirs.
Don't take the w/d out of the house at this point. You could ruin the relationship with them.
Sounds like money is tight on your end and on their end. No renter wants to be responsible for a used appliance that could break or need repair any day.
If it is not in writing - it doesn't exists. Get the W/D out because you making yourself liable in case something happens.
Sometimes it seems like no good deed goes unpunished. It's hard to change anything after a rental agreement is in place. If I were you (and as strapped for cash), I probably would have let them continue shlepping to the local laundromat. Since you've installed the appliances, they might as well use them as you intended, but if they break, they can go back to using the laundromat. It's no worse off than what they started off with.
I don't think it's wrong that you are saying we are not responsible for repairs.
It was kind gesture that's all. You are not obligated to provide a washer and dryer therefor you any repairs are not under the lease repair provisions.
As far as taking them out, it's your call. I personally pull them out and maybe the next renters will be a little more grateful.
