If the appliances in your Weymouth rental home are outdated or aren’t working properly, you may be thinking about asking your landlord to replace them. Even though you know that you have good reasons to ask for new appliances, there are both right and wrong ways to go about it. Before you call or send an email to your landlord with your request, it’s advisable to make some preparations first. By incorporating a few helpful tips, you can craft a request that your landlord will have a hard time saying no to.
Check Your Lease
Before asking your landlord for new appliances, it is important to re-read your lease documents. Even though the appliance may have come with the house, your lease may indicate that your landlord is under no obligation to repair or replace them. Some leases place that responsibility on the tenant instead. Even if your lease states that your landlord isn’t contractually required to replace faulty appliances, you can still ask about it. You’ll need to tailor your argument with your specific situation in mind.
Check State Law
Landlord-tenant laws differ from state to state. In some states, the law requires a landlord to keep all of the appliances in good working order – no matter what the lease says. If you live in that state, you can use these resources to help you persuade your landlord to replace a broken appliance. Even though your state does not have such a requirement, it is valuable to have a good working understanding of what the law does and doesn’t cover so that you can explain that in your request.
Explain the Benefits – and the Costs
As you prepare to draft your request, take a little time to develop all the reasons why your landlord should replace an old or broken appliance. Try to think about the situation from your landlord’s perspective and explain how new appliances will not only benefit you but offer benefits to your landlord as well. New appliances often require much less repair, unlike older ones, which will definitely save your landlord time and money in the long run. They are also more energy-efficient and may have rebates your landlord can use to save money. You can also mention that new appliances will help your landlord find new tenants more easily after moving out.
Never forget to mention your careful observation of the lease terms, your on-time rent payments, and so on. Moreover, it’s advisable to explain all of the ways that you, the good tenant, have been negatively impacted by the malfunctioning appliance(s). From high utility bills to spoiled food, demonstrate any risks that broken appliances pose to your health and budget. If your landlord understands how unhappy you are with the situation, that might motivate them to agree to your requests.
Offer to Help
Most landlords have many responsibilities and do not have the time to share with any one tenant. Make granting your request for new appliances easy by sending along some research on good quality brands and deals on new appliances in your area. You could also offer to help remove and set up the new appliance if you have the skills needed to do so. By approaching your landlord with good information and offers to help, you can give them more great reasons to say yes.
Keep It Reasonable
If you forwarded your best arguments and your landlord still refuses to replace the appliances or perhaps claims that they can’t afford to do so, there’s another method you can try. Preferably, offer to pay for half of the appliance yourself, particularly if you’re going to stay in the rental home for an extended period. If your landlord agrees with your deal, be sure to get all of the details in writing, including the appliance’s total cost. Aim for equipment that is both reasonably priced and good quality – going too extravagant may cause your agreement to end before you get the appliance you want. At last, being able to recommend a brand and a good bargain at a local store may encourage your landlord to agree to your request.
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