Is My Landlord Responsible For Refrigerator Repair?

If you are a renter and one of your appliances quits working or is not working properly, you may think that your landlord is responsible for keeping it in good working order and providing repairs when needed. But wait a minute. Have you checked your lease? If you have a lease or rental agreement, check to see if there is a stipulation that holds your landlord responsible for refrigerator repair. In many states, the renter has the responsibility of keeping appliances in working order.

So what can you do? Even though your lease may state otherwise, your relationship with your landlord may determine what repairs, if any, they will pay for. that can help you with many of the issues you may have as a renter.

DoNotPay can help you get back your security deposit.
We can help you understand your state's eviction laws and what protections apply in your case.
DoNotPay can help you resolve disputes over repairs with your landlord.
If you have a dispute with a roommate or want them evicted, we can help with that too.
DoNotPay can show you how to break your lease early.

What Repairs Is My Landlord Responsible For?

Your landlord is legally responsible for providing a safe and habitable living area. That includes maintaining and repairing heat, air conditioning (in some cases), plumbing, and electricity. The home must be safe and meet codes. So if your power goes out, your furnace doesn't function, or the roof leaks, your landlord has an obligation to get these things fixed.

Appliances, on the other hand, are in a gray area. Sometimes there will be a clause in the lease that states who is responsible. Other times, there will not be anything written, but your landlord may require you to notify them of needed repairs. If the appliances were in the rental unit when you moved in, the landlord may have warranty protection, insurance that covers appliances or may simply want to protect their investment.

What Should I Check if My Refrigerator Needs Repair?

If your refrigerator needs to be fixed, there are some things you can check:

Check your lease	Find out if there is anything in your lease that outlines what your landlord is responsible for. Even if you find that you are responsible, the landlord may still help with repairs when needed.
What is wrong with the refrigerator?	Is it not cooling? Will the freezer portion not make ice? Is there a broken shelf? Does it leak? The type of repair needed may be a simple fix that you can repair yourself, for example, replacing a filter.
Did you cause the need for repair?	Did you break a shelf or in some way cause damage to the unit?

What Should I Do if I Want to Resolve the Problem Myself?

If the landlord provides all appliances, the landlord will often want to care for them, protecting the investment. The rental/lease agreement will define the terms and the extent of his and your responsibility. If your refrigerator is broken or not working properly, you should let the landlord know as soon as possible. Even if this is your fault, you may be required by your lease to inform the landlord. You should write a repair request letter detailing the issue, with the time and date that you noticed it, what is wrong with it, and the impact it has on your life.

If you caused the need for repair, you might be responsible for paying for the repairs, depending on your relationship with your landlord and whatever is stated in your lease. Even if you did not cause it, you might be responsible for keeping the refrigerator in good working order. Your lease is a legal contract, so if this is spelled out in the lease, you are obligated to honor the lease.

How Can DoNotPay Help Me Resolve the Problem?

If you have a problem getting your refrigerator repaired, want help getting your security deposit back, or have any other problem with your landlord or understanding your renter's rights, DoNotPay can help in four easy steps:

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.

Why Use DoNotPay to Hold Your Landlord Responsible for Refrigerator Repair

DoNotPay is the world’s first robot lawyer! We are:

Fast—You don't have to spend hours researching legal information or talking to your landlord
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Successful—Rest assured knowing we'll make the best case for your refrigerator repair