An appliance clause is a statement included in a residential lease agreement that outlines the terms and conditions surrounding appliances in a rental unit. Landlords may use this clause to specify which appliances they will be providing, as well as any additional rules or restrictions.
Sample Appliance Clause
Below is an example of an appliance clause that could be incorporated into a residential lease agreement:
The Landlord shall describe all appliances, in writing, that will be provided in the Rental Unit prior to move-in. The Tenant(s) shall not remove the appliances from the Rental Unit without written permission from the Landlord. The Landlord shall be responsible for any repairs or damages needed for the listed appliances, as long as the repairs or damages are not a result of the Tenant(s)’s actions. The Tenant(s) is solely responsible for any repairs or damages needed for any appliances not listed in the agreement. The Tenant(s) agrees not to install, operate, or place in the Rental Unit any freezer, stove, cooking device, air conditioning unit, clothes dryer, washing machine, or any other major appliance not otherwise provided or authorized in writing by the Landlord.
The Rental Unit will contain the following appliances:
__Refrigerator
__Oven
__Microwave
__Dishwasher
__Garbage Disposal
__Dryer
__Air conditioning
__Ceiling fanOther:_________________________________________________
Why Include an Appliance Clause in a Residential Lease Agreement
Landlords may include an appliance clause in the lease agreement to:
- Provide clarity on which appliances are provided
- Highlight any appliances that are not allowed in the rental unit (e.g., washer or dryer)
- Inform tenants of appliances that they can provide
- Outline each party’s responsibilities regarding maintenance and repairs
Clarifying these rules and responsibilities with tenants ahead of time builds a stronger landlord-tenant relationship and prevents future liability issues.
Are Landlords Required to Provide Appliances?
Landlords are not legally required to provide appliances in most states. However, doing so is common practice in many cities—as most renters do not own major appliances. Providing the basics, such as refrigerators and stoves, will help raise the value of the property and attract more tenants. This can be especially useful in larger cities with competitive markets.
Are Landlords Responsible for Repairing Appliances?
In most cases, the landlord is responsible for repairing any appliances that they provide. However, if the damage was caused by the tenants, the landlord may charge the tenant for the repairs or deduct the cost from the tenant’s security deposit.
What Should Be Included in an Appliance Clause?
Landlords should cover the following information in their appliance clause:
- Appliances provided by the landlord
- Appliances that are not provided but allowed on the property
- Appliances that are prohibited on the property
- Responsibilities surrounding damages and repairs
- Statement addressing that any provided appliances must not be removed from the property without the landlord’s consent
- Acknowledgement that both parties understand the terms of the agreement
- Any additional terms or conditions
An appliance clause must be in compliance with state and local laws in order to be enforceable. Landlords should thoroughly research rules and regulations in their area before creating their agreement.
