Who provides dehumidifiers?

[Lev Bass]

Quick (I hope) question: we moved and rented out the house. We used to have a dehumidifier in the basement but we took it to the new house. The tenants don't have one. Do we need to buy it because high humidity affects our basement or do they, because it affects their belongings stored there and, potentially, their health?

According to our broker's attorney there is no law requiring landlords to provide a dehumidifier if there is a basement (we are in Mass). The lease doesn't mention a dehumidifier.

The tenants wrote that they won't be able to afford it for a few weeks because of moving expenses, so it seems they are not refusing to do it outright. This makes me think of another alternative: we buy it now, they pay us in, let's say, 3 months.

Thanks!
Lev