Rental Property: Dishwasher Replacement | Who Is Liable to Replace?

Bman17 on 28/11/2023 - 12:17
Last edited 28/11/2023 - 17:58

I received a rental repair request from the tenant to replace the dishwasher as it is not turning ON.
My question is: Do I need to replace this? I mean tenant can get their own dishwasher machine, just like washing machines and fridges.
Note: The property wasn't advertised as a fully furnished one.

Edit: Do I have to replace? - is what I meant to ask instead of "Who is liable"
I take all your feedback positively and also making sure tenant don't suffer for me being nube landlord. #LearningInProcess.

Poll Options expired

  • 21
    Tenant can get their own dishwasher.
  • 996
    Landlord needs to replace the dishwasher.
General Discussion Dishwasher

Comments

    • sheebies on 29/11/2023 - 15:22
      +2

      I agree with this!

      I did this once with a gas heater, went into the house tried turning on the gas heater and couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to get it to work.

      Put in a repair request, landlord came out, fiddled with the thermostat on the wall, put a battery in it and the gas heater turned on.

      I felt like such a fool and apologised profusely for wasting his time.

      The landlord laughed and said he was just happy he didn’t have to replace the heater. It was meant to have instructions but apparently the previous tenant had taken them.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 28/11/2023 - 12:46
    +15

    Next up: I received a rental repair request from the tenant to replace the air conditioning as it is not turning ON.
    My question is: Do I need to replace this?

    • try2bhelpful on 28/11/2023 - 12:52

      You do wonder at what point the landlord think it is on them? Although, in some places in Europe, you are expected to install your own kitchen.

      • wallet72 on 28/11/2023 - 12:56
        +8

        yup, and you get to take it with you when you leave. The rental price and the length of the rental agreement reflect that too - tell someone from Sweden the longest rental you can get is a year and they will think you are nuts.

    • Ten on 28/11/2023 - 18:30

      The sentence structure is too good. Try using "air conditioning machine" next time to really harness the power of OP.

    • LFO on 29/11/2023 - 12:47
      +1

      LOL
      Copycatting yours (sorry…):

      Next up: I received a rental repair request from the tenant to replace the front door as it is stuck and not opening.
      My question is: Do I need to replace this?

      • blitz on 01/12/2023 - 14:14

        I mean tenant can get their own front door, just like clothes and food.

  • Dollar General on 28/11/2023 - 12:55
    +3

    Perhaps the power switch was turned off accidentally or plug pulled out by accident. Maybe check it first but yes you should replace it.

    Not always the case, but generally if you look after the tenants, they will look after your huge investment

  • Bluto Mindpretzel on 28/11/2023 - 12:59
    +29

    If you need to ask this, you are honestly not remotely qualified to be a landlord in the first place and represent all is wrong with our market right now.

  • newjerseydamo on 28/11/2023 - 13:06
    +9

    A dishwasher is usually a fixed appliance, just like an oven and stove, which are not moved house to house. Fridges and washing machines/dryers are portable and moved from house to house. So, your example is terrible.

    "Fully furnished" refers to the typical contents a tenant would have, i.e., bedroom, dining, lounge, and kitchen items and has nothing to do with fixed items.

    The mental hurdles some people take to save a few bucks rather than be responsible….

    • CurlCurl on 28/11/2023 - 14:02
      +1

      A dishwasher is usually a fixed appliance, just like an oven and stove,

      Good grief. I can unplug a dishwasher and disconnect the hose just like a washing machine. I can't disconnect a gas or wired in stove.

      • newjerseydamo on 28/11/2023 - 14:10

        I'm well aware, but nice one to take out of context. You damn well know what I mean. Dishwashers are rarely moved house to house and often treated like permanent fixtures.

        • coffeeinmyveins on 28/11/2023 - 15:49

          you're right, ignore CurlCurl. I've never heard of a rental property that didn't come with a dishwasher if there was a slot for it.

          • AG_ACT on 29/11/2023 - 07:02

            @coffeeinmyveins: Not suggesting the dishwasher isn’t the landlords problem BUT just FYI, defence housing Australia make you REMOVE the dishwasher if you have one before they will sign a lease with you as apparently all defence staff move with their own.

      • LFO on 29/11/2023 - 12:48
        +1

        I can't disconnect a gas or wired in stove.

        Yes you can …

  • Ozbar Gain on 28/11/2023 - 13:10
    +9

    Should've ordered a new one long before wasting your and your tenants time on OZB

  • JimmyF on 28/11/2023 - 13:19
    +10

    Oh gee, another entitled landlord post…. Anyhow lets carry on

    My question is: Do I need to replace this? I mean tenant can get their own dishwasher machine, just like washing machines and fridges.

    They rented a place from you that had a working dishwasher. They pay their rent, you need to keep up your side and provide a safe place for them to live in with a working set of appliances that you supplied. Like dishwasher, AC, HW etc.

    As for fridges or washing machines claim, if they are also present when they rented the place, you also need to keep them in a working order too.

    The fact you are asking this, tells me you really shouldn't be a landlord, best to sell the place now and invest the money into shares or something else.

    • eddyah on 30/11/2023 - 11:28
      +2

      When the OzBargainer becomes OzSlumlord

      The common theme here is they are both CHEAP.

    • Protractor on 30/11/2023 - 11:50
      +2

      "The fact you are asking this, tells me you really shouldn't be a landlord" Would like to see the Mods step in and change the title to
      "Am I a fit for purpose person to be a landlord"
      The poll would look a lot like it does now. Still

      • JimmyF on 30/11/2023 - 14:14

        Its a disgrace they are even asked who Is Liable to Replace it. Its like the tenant should grateful they can even rent this place, so should replace it and leave it when they leave, all while paying top dollar in rent.

        • Protractor on 30/11/2023 - 14:29

          Yes, the Little Johnny Howard legacy , of (profanity) the "fair go", we have "greed to embrace" , is not only alive and well, it's the biggest entitled fish in our little over stocked pond

  • Fredfloresjr on 28/11/2023 - 13:33
    +19

    Based on the poll results and comments, I am convinced that I need a 2nd opinion at reddit -OP

    • Lord Fart Bucket on 28/11/2023 - 13:53
      +2

      Don't forget WP.

    • Bman17 on 28/11/2023 - 17:51
      -1

      haha, nah, I am convinced.
      something I asked being nube but turned out to be an outrage.

      • gakko on 29/11/2023 - 13:14

        If you say you are a landlord on Australian forums you are an enemy of the people whether fair or not. To me your question was asked in good faith but people really focused on what was really just the rationale for asking the question.

        Guys the bad landlords probably aren't on Ozb asking advice….

        • ThithLord on 30/11/2023 - 10:20

          Sometimes the LLs get up on these forums, sometimes they get flamed like OP. Them's the breaks

        • Protractor on 30/11/2023 - 11:53

          And if you ask stupid questions with obvious answers (as a LL) you deserve the wrath. Ditto for the SA LLs who constantly treat and comment about tenants like they were a commodity, or have used the opportunity of COL crisis to gouge fellow humans .

          The majority of LLs these days ft that category. Opportunistic predators

  • AustriaBargain on 28/11/2023 - 13:55
    +1

    They leased a dishwasher off you and it broke through no fault of their own. You need to provide another one. Dishwashers save energy and water, you should want to replace it. You should feel bad that they don't have a working dishwasher right now.

    • jv on 28/11/2023 - 14:18
      -1

      They leased a dishwasher off you

      Did they really?

      • coffeeinmyveins on 28/11/2023 - 15:47
        +1

        Yes, they did. It's part of the rental agreement, but hey, let's not let facts get in the way.

        • jv on 28/11/2023 - 15:51

          Yes, they did. It's part of the rental agreement

          It wasn't in the one I read.

          Maybe you read a different one.

          • Wort on 28/11/2023 - 20:13
            +1

            @jv: From the standard victorian short term lease agreement Urgent repairs include failure or breakdown of any essential service or appliance provided for hot water, cooking, heating or laundering supplied by the rental provider.

            • jv on 28/11/2023 - 21:20
              +1

              @Wort: Not if it wasn't working in the first place.

              Also, a dishwasher is not categorised as 'essential'.

              • Wort on 28/11/2023 - 21:42

                @jv: Essential service or appliance….

                • jv on 28/11/2023 - 21:43
                  +1

                  @Wort: it's not an essential appliance.

                  Also, if it was not working at the start of the lease, there is no obligation to repair.

                  • Wort on 28/11/2023 - 21:45

                    @jv: Lol, so if the rear door lock doesn't lock when you move in, to bad, no need to repair?

                    • jv on 28/11/2023 - 21:48

                      @Wort: A door lock on an external door is compulsory, a dishwasher that wasn't advertised, isn't.

                      • Wort on 28/11/2023 - 22:17

                        @jv: Well in thay case lets jump down a few paragraphs in the agreement…

                        Non-urgent repairs
                        • The renter must notify the rental provider, in writing, as soon as practicable of:
                        - damage to the premises.
                        - breakdown of facilities, fixtures, furniture or equipment supplied by the rental provider. the dishwasher didn't magically appear in the op's house
                        • The rental provider must carry out non-urgent repairs in reasonable time.
                        • The renter can apply to VCAT for an order requiring the rental provider to do the repairs if the rental provider has not carried out the repairs within 14 days of receiving notice of the need for repair.

                  • try2bhelpful on 29/11/2023 - 13:33

                    @jv: Presumably the non working appliances would need to be pointed out before someone rents a property.

                    • trapper on 29/11/2023 - 16:59

                      @try2bhelpful: Even then, why should the tenant be forced to live with random broken appliances blocking space around the house.

                      Non-working appliances should be repaired, replaced or removed by the landlord.

              • trapper on 29/11/2023 - 16:56

                @jv:

                Also, a dishwasher is not categorised as 'essential'.

                Yes so this would be a non-urgent repair, landlord has 'reasonable' time to sort it. (14 days)

                • jv on 29/11/2023 - 18:34

                  @trapper:

                  landlord has 'reasonable' time to sort it.

                  or the tenant has.

                  • Wort on 29/11/2023 - 19:49
                    +1

                    @jv: Tenant just needs to report it, landlord needs to fix it

                    • jv on 29/11/2023 - 20:01

                      @Wort: Not if it was not working in the first place and was not advertised as being part of the lease.

                      Also no need for landlord to fix it if the tenant broke it.

                      • Wort on 29/11/2023 - 20:15

                        @jv:

                        Also no need for landlord to fix it if the tenant broke it.

                        Well in that case then yes, but you just pulled that hypothetical, that's not what is being discussed here.

                        Not if it was not working in the first place and was not advertised as being part of the lease.

                        There is no mention in the law, that I can see, about a difference between non-functional and functional facilities, fixtures, furniture or equipment
                        Even if it was broken to start with, the tenant probably has a fair case to get the landlord to remove it so that they can use the space for their own. In general rentals != storage lockers for a landlord's broken appliances.

                        • jv on 29/11/2023 - 20:18
                          +1

                          @Wort:

                          There is no mention in the law, that I can see,

                          Look harder…

                          "Tenancy Law states that if an appliance is present and in working order at the start of the tenancy, the landlord is obligated to maintain and replace the item should it cease working during the tenancy. It legally it forms part of the tenancy and the repair and replacement provisions cannot be contracted out of the Tenancy Agreement."

                          • Wort on 29/11/2023 - 20:20

                            @jv: lol thats not the law, that's https://raywhitewarrnambool.com.au/news/knowing-the-rules-of…

                            • jv on 29/11/2023 - 20:20

                              @Wort:

                              thats not the law,

                              Yes it is.

                              • Wort on 29/11/2023 - 20:22
                                +1

                                @jv: In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: Ray White and JV

                          • trapper on 30/11/2023 - 01:10
                            +1

                            @jv:

                            Tenancy Law states that if an appliance is present and in working order at the start of the tenancy, the landlord is obligated to maintain and replace the item should it cease working during the tenancy.

                            So you're wrong then.

                            It's not required to be in the rental agreement at all.

                            If it was there and working at the start of the tenancy, then it must be maintained by the landlord. Case closed.

    • JIMB0 on 28/11/2023 - 14:24
      +1

      Maybe it's not working because they didn't pay the power bill.

  • Muzeeb on 28/11/2023 - 13:58
    +5

    @Jimothy Wongingtons

    • Muzeeb on 28/11/2023 - 14:32
      +11

      As soon as I saw that 1 vote I knew jv had entered the chat.

  • JIMB0 on 28/11/2023 - 14:23
    -3

    Why can't the tenant's wife wash the dishes by hand?

    • Muzeeb on 28/11/2023 - 14:32
      -4

      She's busy in the laundry.

      • jv on 28/11/2023 - 14:38

        I though women could multitask?

        That's what my wife keeps telling me…

    • Clear on 28/11/2023 - 14:35
      +5

      You sound like my previous property manager.

      "The shower is broken so they can just use a bucket and sink". Yeah… I'm not a shitty landlord let me get that fixed asap.

  • brendanm on 28/11/2023 - 14:40
    +4

    It's your Fing dishwasher, yes you have to fix it.

    • Muzeeb on 28/11/2023 - 14:53
      +2

      I haven't heard of that brand. Sounds like cheap Chinese junk.

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 28/11/2023 - 15:33
        +2

        Straight from Temu.

        • Muzeeb on 28/11/2023 - 15:35
          +2

          With 90% off if you spin the wheel correctly

      • brendanm on 29/11/2023 - 12:54

        Yet to get a foothold in the market, but I'm sure we will see far more of them around soon.

  • EightImmortals on 28/11/2023 - 14:46

    Dishwasher is the landlords responsibility but why not get it repaired instead of replaced? As others have said it might be something simple. Repairs would be fully tax deductible but a new machine is probably only depreciable over a few years.

    • jv on 28/11/2023 - 15:40

      Dishwasher is the landlords responsibility

      Maybe they should just remove it completely…

  • zanzir on 28/11/2023 - 15:07
    +11

    lmao what the (profanity) kind of entitlement is this shit? jesus christ hope housing market gets tanked

    • jv on 28/11/2023 - 15:42
      -2

      lmao what the (profanity) kind of entitlement is this shit?

      Exactly…

      Tenants should be providing their own whitegoods unless the landloard is leasing it as furnished.

      • coffeeinmyveins on 28/11/2023 - 15:46
        +3

        whilst there is no law saying that they need to be supplied, if they are, then it's the landlords responsibility to maintain them.

        so yet again, another useless JV comment.

        • jv on 28/11/2023 - 15:48
          -1

          if they are, then it's the landlords responsibility to maintain them.

          not if it wasn't working to begin with.

        • rezdo on 29/11/2023 - 09:23
          +1

          Any landlord asking this question on OZB is trolling in 2023.

          +1000 for Housing reform and ending these ridiculous entitlements to extort a basic human right.

      • AustriaBargain on 28/11/2023 - 17:27

        Dishwashers are usually silver these days.

    • franco cozzo on 28/11/2023 - 16:58
      +4

      the roof has caved in on my investment property…is my tenant liable to pay for replacement roof??

      • ThithLord on 30/11/2023 - 10:22
        +1

        What does the tenancy agreement say? Does it explicitly state there is a functioning roof in the agreement? No? Then roof repairs will commence once the poorly, destitute LL can muster up the equity. Poor, hard done by LL

  • coffeeinmyveins on 28/11/2023 - 15:46
    +4

    Every day I'm amazed that people without the basic ability to google things own property.

    • jv on 28/11/2023 - 15:50

      Not everyone has access to the internet.

      • franco cozzo on 28/11/2023 - 16:57
        +3

        or common sense

      • AustriaBargain on 28/11/2023 - 17:26

        Maybe OPs landlord decided a phone/NBN line into the house wasn't necessary and refused to repair it…

  • WreckTangle on 28/11/2023 - 15:50
    +1

    Why would you even ask this?

  • Heaps for Cheaps on 28/11/2023 - 15:58
    +5

    I am a landlord, and even I know if it came with the property when they moved in, you have to fix it…

    If you can't afford to fix it, sell the property, your don't deserve the title of lord of anything… Slumlords give landlords a bad name.

    • EightImmortals on 28/11/2023 - 17:15
      +1

      What about StarLords?

    • jv on 28/11/2023 - 21:53

      even I know if it came with the property when they moved in, you have to fix it…

      If it wasn't advertised as included and wasn't working and you informed the tenant, the landlord has no legal obligation to repair or replace it.

      • coffeeinmyveins on 29/11/2023 - 09:50
        +2

        Tiles on the floor aren't advertised as "included" but yet, here we are.

        100% it was in the pictures of the property and that constitutes inclusion of the rental agreement, and the moment it is, there is an expectation that it is functioning. You can't just have a whitegood like that or an airconditioner and it not function, get your head out of the sand and stop being contrarian just for the sake of it.

        • jv on 29/11/2023 - 09:54

          Tiles on the floor aren't advertised as "included"

          Tiles aren't appliances.

  • franco cozzo on 28/11/2023 - 16:57
    +2

    so it turns out any old dumbass can be a landlord….!? who would have thought!!!

    • AustriaBargain on 28/11/2023 - 17:22
      +4

      You should need a license to be a landlord. Every man, his uncle, and his dog becoming "landlords" to get rich quick is (profanity) this country in the ass.

    • Protractor on 30/11/2023 - 11:58

      I'll bet they are an offspring of like minded parent landlords.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 28/11/2023 - 17:26

    My question is: Do I need to replace this? I mean tenant can get their own dishwasher machine, just like washing machines and fridges.

    it depends on if the dishwasher was in the house when they moved in - or if they brought the dishwasher themselves

    if it was there when they moved in you're liable if they brought it then it is on them

    if you are unsure then you are liable

  • [Deactivated] on 28/11/2023 - 17:35
    -2

    Apparently the landlord is liable to pay $200+ in install for a FREESTANDING dishwasher if the tenant refuses to plug it in…
    That's what my agent told me at least.
    This seem ridiculous to anyone else??

    • TightLikeThisx on 28/11/2023 - 18:46

      It does but some appliances need to be installed by a professional even though they just run off mains power. e.g window air con units.

      That could be the case.

      If this applies with dishwashers then I can't blame the tenant for not plugging it in.

      If it was marked as not working on the condition report then if the tennant plugs it in and start using it and something goes wrong (e.g it leaks and damages cupboard/flooring) then the landlord can take part of the bond because they either illegally "installed it" or they used broken equipment which they were informed about.

    • Thinkswithelbow on 29/11/2023 - 08:26

      Don't dishwashers…even free standing ones need to be connected to water? Both intake and output? Would you trust your Tennant to do the plumbing and not (profanity) up everything? I wouldn't.

      • afah0447 on 29/11/2023 - 10:31
        +1

        Replacing a freestanding dishwasher is exactly the same as installing a washing machine. One water pipe in, one water pipe out and one power cord. Its sooo easy.

        • Thinkswithelbow on 29/11/2023 - 11:14

          Sure but alot of these are hidden behind the sink or cabinets. I wouldn't trust a Tennant to do this. Rather hire a plumber to connect it all up. What is the tenant damages one of the pipes? Who pays?
          It's just welcoming a world of annoyance

          • try2bhelpful on 29/11/2023 - 11:16
            +1

            @Thinkswithelbow: And if they don’t install it properly and flood the place then I’m sure the landlord would be happy to cop the damage.

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