Posted by dave on January 26, 2008 at 16:40:18:
I make tenants responsible for maintenance on all appliances in my units. This reduces wear and tear immensely. The amount of calls greatly reduced. I also only replace appliances in units if a turn over occurs.
I have had washer and dryers left over in units and give them to tenants and explain they will not maintained. I have a scrapper that takes them out of my units when they die for free. I then do not pay for removal or for maintenance. If they are already present fine but I would never purchase a washer or dryer for a tenant. refrigerators and stoves are enough as far as I’m concerned. The tenants tear up appliances so have it in your lease to bring the burden of repairing appliances on the tenants. I also tell tenants if my appliance disappears it is considered felony theft. That is theft over the value of $500. I make it clear with tenants they must agree to use what is in the unit and not remove it. If the appliances are old I may replace then when a turn over occurs if the old unit has been damaged by a previous tenant. This way the security deposit is doing its job. In one city I have rentals I can get a delivered and set up used refrigerator and stove for $250 dollars. If its higher end I may get a new set delivered. I have boarding homes I provide free laundry! I also get a extra charge to pay utilities and ect.