Landlords, rental appliances?

Question

My wife and I are looking into getting into rental property investment, and part of that, we’re trying to find a new 2bdrm apartment in the LA area (instead of getting an expensive mortgage) to save money while having space, but we’ve noticed several places that charge a rental fee for a refrigerator. It’s such a turnoff (who wants to pay $50-$150–serious-for a fridge each month?)

/rant over. Is this common?

Ashley Kehr · Answer

@Eric Ippolito in my area some of the new complexes will charge for use of washer and dryer. The laundry room door in that unit will remain locked unless the resident pays a $65 fee each month on top of their rent. I haven’t heard of renting a fridge or stove.

Theresa Harris · Answer

I've never heard of people doing that.  Places should come with a fridge and stove.  If the landlord wants to play that game, tell them you don't want it as you have your own.  Then look online for a gently used one. Two can play at that game!

Account Closed · Answer

@Eric Ippolito it’s an LA thing unfortunately. I rent as well, and it was a culture shock when I moved here and started looking for an apartment. We got lucky and found one that provided them. Although, that wasn’t a big criteria for us. Finding an apartment in LA is tough because of the sheer number of applicants to unit ratio. My fiancé and I have great credit scores and 3 times the rent requirement in income, and we got turned down 3 times before finding our place. When 20 people apply for one unit you have to compete. The demand here is so high, and margins are so small that investors simply don’t need to supply appliances to find tenants.

Mark Fries · Answer

@Eric Ippolito

Hearing this makes me want to furnish my C & D class properties with furniture and TV's...and charge an extra $250 a month...

Max T. · Answer

@Eric Ippolito

As a Landlord I would much rather provide a new appliance than go through the trouble of removing it (and the risk of my tenant moving theirs in its place). In my market we provide them.

Michael Lee · Answer

I don't think refrigerator should charge money from renters.

Nicholas Simeone · Answer

My first rental in Long Beach did this, I bought a fridge, had a 90 day return warranty, the place I rented was month to month and I moved in with my buddy after his roommate bailed on him (my place was next to a school and I worked nights, hearing the classroom buzzer between each period drove me insane while trying to sleep during the day).  I put in my 30 day notice,  I returned the fridge, then moved in with him.  Problem solved at the time, but yea super common in LA.  I did get to use their stove free of charge though.   Paying for parking is another story!  But worth every penny if you work nights, two mile jaunts after a 14 hour shift was rough for that month.

Jennifer T. · Answer

Nationwide, I'd guess that refrigerators are usually included in rentals.  But as to what appliances are/not included in rentals, can also be area specific.  For example, I live in and have rentals in New Orleans.  In this area, the fridge and stove are usually included in rentals (washers and dryers roughly half the time).  But about 10ish% of the time, you'll also see rentals where a fridge and/or oven is not provided.  Especially for lower end rental units that have especially cheap rents.  Though I haven't seen a scenario where appliances are provided, but with an extra rental fee.

Sounds like that configuration is at least somewhat common in L.A., since you keep running into it.  If it were me, I'd ask if it's possible to have the refrigerator taken out and then supply my own.  It would be cheaper that way and then I'd just chalk it up to the cost of renting an apartment in L.A.  If they typically won't do that, then I'd just mentally lump it into that rental rate.

John Teachout · Answer

We don't provide fridges for any of our SFR homes. Tenant can either provide their own or if there was one in the property when we acquired it, they're welcome to use it but if it breaks it's up to them to repair or replace it. We'll remove an existing fridge if they have their own so they don't have to deal with that.

We do provide the range, dishwasher, etc. We don't provide a washer and dryer but have offered to rent those for a nominal fee but no one has taken us up on that.

Landlords, rental appliances?

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