Broken appliances
Sometimes the residence is rented with appliances, for example a refrigerator or a washing machine. Is it the landlord or the tenant who is responsible for paying for repairs or buying new appliances if the item breaks during the tenancy?
What is agreed upon?
Who is responsible for the maintenance often depends on what is agreed upon between the landlord and tenant. This is often written into the contract.
What happens if an agreement has not been made?
If the parties have not agreed upon something else, it is the tenant who is responsible for the maintenance of the appliances. If an appliance is part of the immovable part of the residence, for example a refrigerator which is integrated in the kitchen interior, the main rule is that it is the landlord who is responsible for the maintenance.
If repairs will be more expensive than buying new appliances, or you have to buy a new appliance because the item cannot be repaired, the main rule is that it is the landlord who must pay.
If the appliance was broken due to accidental damage, for example due to lightning strike, it is not considered maintenance. This means that the landlord must ensure the repairs and cover the cost.
Improper use by the tenant
If it is improper use by the tenant that has caused the appliance to break, it is usually the tenant that must pay for repairs.
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