Dryer Vent Cleaning - who pays for it?

[Diem N.]

We have a rental property and did not provide a washer or dryer.  The tenant wants us to clean the dryer vent duct since her dryer is not drying well.  What is the landlord's responsibility in California?  I cannot find anything specific to dryer vent cleaning anywhere.

[Andrew S.]

Quote from @Jonathan G.:

@Diem N.

It really depends on how many properties you have. If this is only one of a small amount of properties, invest in a dryer exhaust vent cleaning system off of Amazon. They are pretty simple to use and all you really need is a cordless drill. This will also afford you the opportunity to go over to the property and see how things are maintained overall with your renters. If you have a large amount of properties, probably best to have a contractor do it for you.

 I agree - its very easy to do it yourself.  But even if not, a handyman can easily knock this out in less than an hour.  Especially if you have never cleaned the ducts (and you would be surprised how many properties have not) you will be amazed by how much lint and dust can accumulate over time.  I do my 10-12 doors once every few years and don't see that much lint anymore, but the first time I cleaned some of the properties, they literally yielded a bucket full of material.  As others have pointed out, those are fires waiting to happen.

In addition to reducing fire hazards, cleaning the ducts allows you to inspect.  Last cleaning cycle, I had two of my properties with disconnected/damaged vent ducts that essentially vented the dryer into the basement (in one case) or the attic (in the other case).  That is REALLY bad news because dryers generate a huge amount of humidity and those damp spaces are an invitation for mold and wood-rot problems.  Reconnecting the ducts was quick and easy.

Finally, while I almost always agree with @Nathan Gesner on his advice, here I must differ.  Even if you do not supply washer and dryer, you are still 100% on the hook for cleaning the vents.  As long as you provide the hookups, then you are responsible for maintenance.  It is no different than maintaining the electrical outlet for the W/D or the plumbing for the washer.  If the water or the drain pipe burst, are you going to tell the tenant "not my washer - not my problem"?