Should Landlord Supply Washer/Dryer?

Trying to decide if I should supply my tenants with washer/dryer for the laundry space or just advertise the unit as having available laundry hookups.

If I supply the machines, I would get second hand units. I pay for water/sewer in this property so I would want to buy high efficiency washing machine and the cheapest washers I found so far are $600+ new. Figure $1200 for a pair of machines without added warranty. My gut instinct is that is too expensive for the perceived increase in rent I would get and therefore my desire to look for used machines.

On the other hand, the property came with hookups in the basement for each tenant. One tenant already has a washer/dryer set that she purchased for herself so when she vacates, they will go with her.

So supply the machines or just advertise with available hookups? I think having available machines would probably mean a $25 - $50 increase in monthly rent at most. What do you guys think? Opinions from landlord and tenant perspectives welcome.

For our rental I do not supply the washer / dryer.

However, because I had just mudded / painted the stairway walls to the basement, the handrail had to be removed and I have a heavy duty appliance cart, I arranged to move their washer / dryer to the basement for them and hooked them up. Getting them back up the steps when the time comes will be for them to do!

All utilities in our rental are tenant paid so if they want to save money on their water bill they can buy the high efficiency washer.

Is your dryer gas or electric? If gas then I would probably feel better about providing it and doing the gas hook up myself. If electric they can supply it and plug it in.

agree with you re: who hooks up the gas or electric. There are electric dryer outlets in the laundry areas but the gas linbes are a few feet away so they could easily be extended if a gas dryer were to make an appearance.

Right now I don't have anything to install and am in the planning phase. Not sure if I should spring for the $ to buy laundry units. The decision maker is how much extra $$$ would I be able to rent a unit that has only the laundry hookups vs the same unit but with washer/dryer included

One more thought....

If you supply it and it breaks you get the call and repair bill to get it fixed.

in our youth, that seems very far away these days , we were in rentals till we got it together to settle down in one place and make it all work.

for my part, I was always delighted that a rental HAD hook ups and we could do laundry there at all instead of having to drag everything out and back.

maybe that was just the time frame ( mid seventies ) some seem to believe they "deserve" much more now a days.

steve

NH is not a commie-land so I doubt that any law would dictate how a washer-dryer is or is not included.

The LEASE is the controlling document. And since you are the one writing it then anything ambiguous in the lease would be read to favor the tenant.

I would want a 2 yr ROI on a rented washer or dryer itself [if washer and dryer cost $1200 then I would increase the rent $50/mo for just the washer/dryer expense] and then any additional costs (u say sewer and water you get metered for? ~ then I would add this).

If the place already has hookups then, if you want to recoup your $$$ for sewer/water, I would not add it as a separate item but just add it to the rent and assume that they will use them anyway. But that's up to you.

Some tenants would see new appliances as a big positive (who wants to wash in old machine ~ have you ever taken a used one apart - yuck!)~then sell them when they leave (hopefully 2+ yrs!) and get new ones.

The problem I forsee is if you just supply a hookup and they get hurt installing or cause property damage are they found liable or you? If I owned a rental unit, I would be inclined to supply directions to the nearest laundromat. Depends on the area and how well you screen your tenants too.

Do you like working on washers or dryers? If I were to supply a washer and/or dryer they would be coin op especially if I pay water and sewer. And no hose bib either or youll having the scouts doing car washes on the front lawn. I let them get their own........

Not a landlord here but I can see where the tenant would be extremely happy to have on-site W/D. After renting in our youth post-marriage we bought our first front loader. 10 years later it crapped out. In the week of doing research to find our next washer I about fell over when we had to go to the laundromat.

I cannot believe the price to do a load of laundry and dry it! Our family would easily go through $35/week plus travel and time wasted. I'd give an extra $100/month if I never had to go back.

Want good? What folks think about Speed Queen v. home depot 5yr junk ones?

I had to replace my central agitator ... 100 bucks to do that ..

I recently had to go to a laundry to do our summer house laundry. 4 over sized washers, 4 dryers for 45 min. and it was over $25.00.

I have a friend who was able to buy used laundry washers and dryers with coin mechs. on them. He had three units and the coin laundry paid for his and his wife's winter vacation.

Just a thought.

Joe

Good Lord!!! Just supply the hook up. If they damage anything, they will have already signed the lease & are responsible for ANY damage period. You are getting 1 mo. or a security deposit plus 1st mo's rent??? KISS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coin op's, don't let'em give someone else your money ...CHA-CHING!