How Long Does a Landlord Have to Fix a Washing Machine?

With more than 43 million rental houses in the United States (US Department of Housing and Urban Development), there's a lot on the topic of landlords and tenants. One such hot issue is the question of or, in that case, any other appliance?

Before we can answer this, you need first to understand who is responsible for repairs. Is it the landlord or tenant? Thereafter, you'll know how to solve the issue and when to employ a third-party solution like DoNotPay to get the repair problem sorted.

Is the Landlord Responsible for Fixing Washing Machine?

When first occupying the rental property, most tenants are fast in appending the signature on the dotted line on the lease without thoroughly understanding the fine details of each clause. On that note, to understand your renter’s rights, including who is , matters pertaining to the security deposit, and when the landlord can evict you, you need to go back to the lease agreement plus your state's rental laws.

Fine, for white goods (washing machine, refrigerator, dishwasher, etc.), the responsibility depends on who owns the appliance, what the lease states, and circumstances leading to breakdown:

If you own the washing machine, then if it breaks down, it's your duty to repair it and not the landlord.
Suppose the machine needs repair because the tenant misused it, such as overloading (and the landlord can prove it). In that case, it's the tenant's responsibility to pay for the repairs.
Though rare, if a visitor or guest caused the damage, the landlord cannot pay for that repair; the tenant will have to cater for the cost of repair or replacement.
The landlord is responsible for washing machine repair if it comes with the rental unit and the lease conditions state so. Therefore, you should check your lease for a clause about appliance repairs. For instance, some leases will note that the white goods are there for the tenant to use but not part of the rent, and if the tenant decides to use them, they should maintain them too.

If, in your case, it's the landlord's responsibility, inform them about the washing machine issue as early as you notice it. If they're unresponsive, DoNotPay can help you file a complaint against your landlord.

How Long Does My Landlord Have to Make Repairs?

Typically, there is no predetermined time limit for a landlord to do specific repair work. However, it's the landlord's responsibility to always keep the property within the habitability standards and local safety guidelines.

Most state laws have a timescale listing reasonable timeframes for various repairs depending on whether it's urgent or affects the safety/health of the tenants. For example, some states will require the landlord to repair the heating problem within a few days to a week if it's in the middle of the winter.

For problems regarding and other white goods, the landlord can have 14 to 30 days, depending on your state. Nevertheless, if the issue can pose a danger, e.g., faulty wiring/short-circuiting, a leaky washer that's unable to drain normally, etc., it might require immediate intervention to avoid a looming hazard like fires or slip & fall accidents.

How to Ask Your Landlord for Repairs

Most renters can tolerate living in substandard rentals for fear of eviction or risking their security deposit. But the landlord cannot illegally hold your security deposit or evict you without notice. The bottom line is that they must follow due process and law when doing so. Therefore, if you have really confirmed that the repairs are the landlord’s obligation, follow the following steps sequentially depending on the landlord's response:

Make sure your landlord is responsible.	If you are sure you did not cause the clog or any other problem in your unit, you can go ahead and create your notice.
Document the problem.	Take pictures and videos of the issue. If it is something you can't see, like issues with heating, use a thermometer or an appropriate tool. If possible, contact the local housing inspectors to look at your building and issues to record it.
Notify the landlord and ask for repairs in writing.	Write to your landlord asking for repairs via text, email, or a letter. Keep a copy of the letter in case you need it in the future.
Wait for the landlord to respond.	Depending on the laws of your state, wait for the allowed time for the landlord to make the repairs. If they don't, look into what legal options your state allows tenants. Some options include withholding rent, repairing the problem, and deducting the cost from your rent.

If they ignore this, you can take a couple of steps; if your state allows, you can repair-and-deduct or withhold the rent until the repairs are done. Otherwise, report the landlord to the local tenant protection authority, sue the landlord for breach of contract, or break the lease early and relocate.

How DoNotPay Can Help If the Landlord Refuses to Fix Your Washing Machine

We help thousands of tenants to protest mistreatment by their landlords through our various services under the Landlord's Protection product, including

Get back your security deposits
Learn about your state's eviction laws and what protections apply in your case
Resolve disputes regarding repairs with your landlord
Resolve disputes with roommates by filing demand letters or going through small claims court
Break your lease early

If you want to write a compelling demand letter that will motivate the landlord to make the repairs fast or access any such related service, you only need to follow these 4 easy steps — and we do the rest!

Search for and open the Landlord Protection product on DoNotPay.
Select which issue applies to you.
Answer a simple set of questions so our chatbot can collect the necessary information to create your demand letter.
Choose whether you want DoNotPay to send the demand letter to your landlord or roommate on your behalf. If you already tried sending a demand letter and it didn't work, we can help you start the small claims court process.

And that's it! You should hear back from your landlord directly once your demands are sent.

What Else Can DoNotPay Do?

We understand that, when put together, the simple tasks in your daily life can easily overwhelm or stress you. Therefore, we have created a curated solution for every issue we think you might be facing. Here are some of our other products renters find beneficial:

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