What to do about appliances in a rental

[Susan Grinde]

I am revamping my lease agreement and I am wondering what to do about some of the appliances. I have appliances like the refrigerator and washer/dryer available with the rental because they were leftover appliances from previous tenants. Nice appliances with lots of life, but usually my tenants must bring in their own refrigerator and washer/dryer. I feel like I may be responsible to replace these appliances if they were to break down or should the tenant buy their own appliances. What do other folks do about appliances in their rentals and what are your experiences?

[Mitch Messer]

Hi @Susan Grinde! To paraphrase, our lease makes it clear that any appliances provided are there as a convenience to the Resident and Management assumes no responsibility for their operation. No part of the monthly rent is attributable to them. We will verify that they work at the time of move-in. Beyond that, the Resident is on their own.

Note that this only applies to true appliances, like microwaves, washers, dryers, and refrigerators, and not critical systems, like the water heater, the furnace, or AC.

Also note that we lease in Georgia, which is blessedly landlord friendly! Your mileage may vary...