How many of you put washers and dryers in your rentals? Thanks!
PS My offer on the duplex (or dumplex as my husband calls it) has been accepted!! Kinda starting to freak out…but I think the anxiety will subside.
I wouldn’t…I don’t do it.
If it breaks, you have to fix it. If it’s theirs and it breaks, they have to fix it. I give them a good house to live in, they have to supply what goes in side.
GooD LucK! :beer
It depends on the market/area. If you are waiting on the market for months unable to find a tenant, you may want to add a few extras to entice folks. Most LL’s say the fewer things you have to fix the better.
There was a building that I was looking at that came with w & d in each unit. It’s just one more thing to fix. I didn’t buy the building, but if I did…I was either going to include in the lease the tenants would have to repair them if they broke (but could take them when they moved) or charge extra because of them (to offset repair costs). The w & d looked like they were 15-20 yrs old. There’s no need to sink repair money into something like that. The tenants probably would have expected them to be repaired or replaced since the units would come with them originally, but I believe a w & d set is completely their thing…I’ll provide a stove and fridge.
Hi all this is a great site with some interesting topics. I have been lurking for over a year.
Yes, I have added washer and dryers for select tenants if they agree to a rent increase of $150/month. I have added three sets this year.
Ken
Good for you if you can get that much, but dang that’s a lot for a washer/dryer. In a few months, they could have bought them on their own.
Not only will we not supply washers and dryers, but we won’t allow washers and dryers in the few multi-unit buildings where we pay the water. What often happens is that low income tenants will allow all their extended family and friends to do their laundry on your tab (water bill).
Mike
Yes it is that is why we do it. We usually look for the stacker washer/dryer combo for around $200 used.
Never heard of paying for water (besides bottled water at stores)? Is it expensive?
I agree if I had to pay for the water I would never consider supplying the units. Also my tenants pay their own utility bills (electric & gas).
One exception I like to supply the cable tv in my apartment buildings as my tenants are billed usually 50-60/mth for basic cable. The cable company gives commercial accounts cable for under $25 /unit.
Ken
Many smaller buildings have the water combined on one meter for cost reasons during construction. Our 6-unit is all on one meter. Some other multi-units I’ve looked at have a single water meter. I’m ok with those, but I steer clear of ones where they have all the electric or gas together. Our water bill is typically about $120 for our building. So it’s not terribly expensive.
$120/yr or /mth? Have you always had to pay for water or is it a new thing?
So the water is metered and you are charged for useage?
Who owns the water and whom gets the money?
Wow, I want in on that deal.
It’s about $120/month. The water bill is paid to the city. They own the meter and all of the supply pipe upstream of the meter. I’ve always had to pay for water to whatever city or utility district I reside in. The only people I know of who get free water are people on well water in the country.
Justin
I thought you were kidding me! I googled it and it turns out some of the larger cities here in Canada also charge for water.
They also charge for garbage. One day, I guess it will happen here too.
Yeah, I pay about $33/month for a dumpster that gets emptied once a week.
Rentals4u - are you serious? For a moment I thought you were playing with Justin. Where have you been living all these years? All the modern day amenities like water, electricity, gas, etc. cost money and need to be paid… every month! :O)
Have a nice evening! :O)
Yes, we are billed for electricity and gas however water is free. You can use as much as you wish.
I live in the northern half of BC Canada.
$33 a month for a dumpster is great… I have to pay $30 a month for each 90gal trashcan at my duplexes, and $90 a month for a small dupster at the apt building.
I thought he was kidding about not knowing you had to pay for for water too, I wish trash and water was free!
I have washer and dryer’s in some of my units that I got as hand-me-downs from my dad (who used to train people to fix them for Maytag, and got to keep the ones they worked on). In my leases the washer dryers are included, but it says they will not be repaired or replaced if they break.
JTT properties - is it legal to have in your lease that you are not going to replace broken appliances? I thought if it was in the unit when the tenant moved in, than you have to maintain it… Am I right? If you don’t mind, can you share the exact wording you use?
Thank you and have a nice rest of Sunday!