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Appliance removal

Submitted by Alisa Povenmire on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 17:33
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I own a duplex and the apartments currently are furnished with dishwashers. The dishwashers are problematic and I wish to remove (and not replace) them from the apartments. Is this illegal? Tenants are tenants-at-will.

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Removing appliances

Submitted by The Editor on Sat, 08/20/2011 - 07:20.

Landlords are not required to provide dishwashers.  However, since you did, the tenants have a right to expect that the appliance will remain and be maintained.  Remove them as the tenants move out and before you replace the tenants.  For others, you can required them to sign a new tenancy at will agreement (you must do a thirty day notice to quit) that specifies no dishwasher is provided.  You might do this when you are putting new TAW agreements in place for other reasons, such as when you wish to raise the rent.

Removing appliances

Submitted by Alisa Povenmire on Sun, 08/21/2011 - 13:50.

Thank you so much, this is helpful. I am actually putting in a new TAW agreement in place to raise the rent, as I have not raised the rent in 5 years, but have put a lot of work into the house. So in the new agreement (with these same tenants), I need to specify that there is no dishwasher provided with the apartment, yes?

Thanks again-

Dishwasher

Submitted by Szklasz Esq. on Mon, 10/24/2011 - 07:21.

If the unit has a dishwasher in place, the current tenant is entitled to its use without your interference. When you draw up the new agreement (my advice is to pay an attorney a few hundred dollars to protect yourself). In the new agreement, put in a clause stating that the tenant may use at their own peril and the unit will not be replaced as it is provided for as a convenience and not as part of any agreement thereto. I counsel many landlords and tenants who violate (the landlord) landlord/tenant law. These violations can cost the landlord thousands (including treble damages). I sell a landlord package to protect landlords from when the tenant states they want the apartment until after they move out. Please contact me if interested (I am a licensed attorney in MA who concentrates on teancy law).

water heater removal

Submitted by angelina on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 08:47.

Is it a law when a new water heater is installed, that the old one has to be removed from the premises?

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