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BlueEyes8724 · Sep 29, 2007, 02:26 PM

Hello, I rent a basement apartment, when I rented it it was advertised to have a washer and dryer, it turned out to be a washer/dryer combo, which I was OK with because a co worker of mine had one and she was satisfied so any concerns I had were allayed. The machine did not work the first couple of weeks, after I got the repair guys out it started to work, the machine was a NIGHTMARE, it never worked well for me (it took four hours to do ONE LOAD of laundry).

Earlier this year the power plug stopped working and I had to pull it out and it sat in the middle of my kitchen, it became such a headache that I now go to my parents house to do my laundry every week and the laundromat to do bigger things. My landlord recently has been doing renovations on his house and casually mentioned that he might replace the washer/dryer combo with the stackable unit in his place (they were replacing theirs). I just found out that he sold it to someone else and I will not be getting a workable washer/dryer.

My question is when I rented the unit I rented it because it had a washer/dryer in the apartment, right now there is one but it does not work well. If I had known that there had not been a washer/dryer I would have never rented the place. Does my landlord have a obligation to replace the washer and dryer or am I SOL? Alternately, do I have a case to ask for a rent reduction based on the fact that an amenity that I believed I would have is no longer workable? It is costing me between $50 and $100 a month to do my laundry elsewhere. I don't believe that the lease mentions anything specific about a washer/dryer (its the standard DC lease) but doesn't it stand that if you advertise an apartment to have a washer/dryer and it does not work, I think that the landlord has a responsibility to correct the situation.

Also, recommendations on how to approach this would be appreciated.

shygrneyzs · Sep 29, 2007, 02:31 PM

What does your lease state? If your lease lists the washer and dryer as part of the apartment, then you may have something to go on. Do you have a tenant association or fair housing council where you live? Have you spoken to an attorney about this?

You may be SOL, as you say. Landlords can change their rules but in all fairness, you should get a washer and dryer, if it is stipulated in your lease. Also, when your landlord decides to change his mind, why wouldn't that be voiding the lease? Wouldn't that give you grounds to vacate?

BlueEyes8724 · Sep 30, 2007, 07:04 AM

Why is it that he can get away with this because he is a private person and not a management company, I lived in a big building with a management company and I know that if my dishwasher (I didn't have a washer/dryer so I am using a d/w as an example) broke down and was not working well that they would have to replace it, what's the difference between a private landlords responsibilities and a big company's landlords responsibilities?

shygrneyzs · Sep 30, 2007, 09:29 AM

Is the washer and dryer stipulated in your lease? Do you have a lease?

BlueEyes8724 · Sep 30, 2007, 10:13 AM

I had a lease, it expired in June, I am on month-to-month as per the lease, the lease did not mention anything specific about the washer/dryer (its the standard DC lease). When I lived in my other apartment I had a dishwasher and it wasn't mentioned.

The washer/dryer was in the advertisement however, if it is advertised and it does not work properly he should fix it.

shygrneyzs · Sep 30, 2007, 10:19 AM

While I agree with you, I do not know whether the landlord can legally do this. If he was going to change something, he should be responsible to give you at least the 30 day notice of the change. That was why I suggested contacting a tenant rights association, fair housing or housing authority.

Here are a couple of links regarding landlord tenant rights:
Landlord Tenant Law Rights Security Deposits Evictions Rent
Landlord Tenant Laws

Good luck to you. Hope you get things resolved to your benefit.