A.D. Cantelmo Property Management
Our Business is Property Management in Orange County California
Should I leave a washer, dryer or refrigerator in my rental
Property?
One of the questions that I get on a regular basis in my
Property Management business is whether a Landlord should leave extra goodies
in the property for the Tenant to use. I understand the desire on the Landlords
part to enhance their property as much as possible and to accommodate the Tenant.
Many Landlords want to be kind and they feel leaving a few extra’s is a nice gesture,
and other landlord’s think that in leaving a few extra things in the property
will enhance the value of the property for rent.
Not so fast
Think about the things you don’t like about owning rental
property and one of those is making repairs. One big reason that many people
rent is so they are not responsible for repairing anything. The toilet
overflows, call the Landlord, Or Property Manager, or the garbage disposal
stops working, call the Landlord. Renters expect things that come with the
property to work and when they don’t, they want them fixed. Now there are
things in the property that should be there and when they break, they should be
fixed, but why add something to the property that is not required or expected
only to increase the chance of more repairs.
But I want to be nice
The landlord that tells me they want to be nice is the more
difficult client to convince that it is not a good idea to leave a washer and
dryer, or another appliance that is not expected. They may feel that a renter
may not be able to afford the extra amenities that the Landlord is willing to
leave them. Being nice is great, but giving the renter a clean and safe place
to live is the best way to be nice.
I will be able to get more rent for the property
This is not a good argument, unless you are renting a completely
furnishes home, leaving one or two extra items is not a good way to increase
the value of the rental property. Most renters are not expecting extra
appliances and they may have their own, so if you are pricing your home with
an extra cost for the added appliances, then you may be overpricing the home
and that can cost you more if it takes longer to rent your home.
limit your responsibility
If a client is going to leave a washer, dryer, refrigerator
or some other extra that does not normally come with the property, there is a
way to limit the responsibility of the Landlord. In the lease, you can explain
that you are leaving these extra items for the Renter to use, but the Landlord
will not be responsible for the repairs. That way, if the Item breaks the
renter is responsible for repairs.
Avoid unnecessary conflict
Even if you put in the lease that the Landlord is not
responsible for the repair of the extra item, such as a refrigerator, the Tenant may still want it to be fixed and that can create a conflict that is
avoidable. The best thing to do is not leave anything that is not necessary,
but if you want to leave something, then just sell it or give it to the Tenant.
That way it is theirs and they understand it is their responsibility. If you do
sell or give it to the Tenant, make sure you do it in writing so there is no
ambiguity.
A.D. Cantelmo Property
Management Specializes in Property Management in Orange County
Ca.
