If the appliances in your East Lyme rental home are outdated or aren’t working properly, you might be thinking about asking your landlord to replace them. Though you may believe 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 is necessary to conduct some preparation first. By using some easy tips, you can craft a request that your landlord will have a hard time saying no to.
Check Your Lease
Prior to asking your landlord for new appliances, the first thing you need to do is re-read your lease documents. Even though the appliances may have come with the house, your lease may determine that your landlord is under no obligation to repair or replace them. A few leases place that responsibility on the tenant rather. Regardless of whether your lease states that your landlord isn’t contractually required to replace faulty appliances, you can still inquire. You will have to tailor your argument with your specific situation in mind.
Check State Law
Landlord-tenant laws differ from state to state. In other states, the law requires a landlord to keep all of the appliances in good working order – regardless of what the lease says. If you reside in that state, you can use this information to persuade your landlord to replace a broken appliance. Even though your state doesn’t have such a requirement, it is a huge benefit to have a good working understanding of what the law does and doesn’t cover so that you can prove it in your request.
Explain the Benefits – and the Costs
As you prepare to draft your request, take some time to develop all the reasons why your landlord should replace an old or broken appliance. Try analyzing the scenario from your landlord’s perspective and explain how new appliances will not only profit you but offer benefits to your landlord as well. New appliances usually require much less repair than older ones, which would possibly 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 may even tell 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. In addition, it’s necessary 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, point out 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 are very busy and have little time to share with just any 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 can 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 good reasons to say yes.
Keep It Reasonable
If you have given your greatest arguments and your landlord still refuses to replace the appliances or perhaps claims that they can’t afford to do so, you can still do one more thing. If possible, offer to pay for half of the appliance yourself, particularly if you intend to stay in the rental home for an extended period. If your landlord approves your offer, be sure to get all of the details in writing, including the appliance’s total cost. Select an appliance that is both reasonably priced and good quality – going too extravagant may cause your agreement to end before you get the appliance you want. Ultimately, being able to recommend a brand and a great deal at a local store may encourage your landlord to agree to your request.
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