Does a landlord have to provide a washing machine?

The question of whether landlords have to provide a washing machine for tenants is a common one for both tenants and landlords. Thankfully, whether you’re renting out a furnished or semi-furnished property, you have no legal obligation to provide your tenants with a washing machine.

Here, we’ll look at your responsibilities as a landlord around washing machines, including white goods, in your rental properties. We’ll also look at your tenants’ responsibilities when it comes to white goods, as well as the insurance coverage available to you if you decide to provide white goods, such as washing machines, for your rental property.

Are landlords responsible for providing washing machines?

As mentioned above, you are not responsible for providing your tenants with a washing machine, especially in unfurnished properties. There are, however, certain white goods that you’ll need to be able to provide for your tenants, such as cookers or a separate hob and oven. 

Besides white goods, there are also certain provisions that you would need to make for your tenants in order to ensure that the property is habitable and held to a high standard. Essential amenities include heating, plumbing, and working electricity. 

Furnished vs. unfurnished rentals

Naturally, there will be certain expectations from you as a landlord depending on whether or not you choose to rent out your property as either furnished, semi-furnished, or unfurnished. Most times, furnished or semi-furnished properties will include certain white goods like fridges and sometimes washing machines or dryers. 

If you decide to list your property as semi-furnished or furnished, it’s best to include the white goods that are included so that potential tenants are aware of what they need to source before moving in. 

Also, if your landlord insurance policy includes free white goods cover, you can rest assured that your white goods will be covered should anything happen to them. 

The benefits of providing a washing machine for your rental property

There will be both benefits and drawbacks to providing white goods for your tenants. Let’s take a look at some of these:

Benefits of providing a washing machine for your rental property

• Your property will be more attractive to the market, especially for tenants who don’t necessarily own their own white goods or young professionals who have just started working. 
• Your rental property will be more convenient to move into, as tenants won’t need to worry about moving their heavy washing machine into the property.
• Investing in a new washing machine for your tenants will save you money in the long run as it will last longer than an old washing machine, providing a good return on investment.
• You can set a slightly higher rental price.

Drawbacks of providing a washing machine for your rental property

• If you do decide to provide a washing machine and it breaks or malfunctions, you’ll be responsible for ensuring repairs are made.
• You’ll need to replace the washing machine if it is unrepairable. 
• Some tenants may already have their own washing machine, making it more inconvenient for you as a landlord.

As with most things in life, there are positives and negatives to everything and so you will need to figure out which option is more worth it for you as a landlord. 

Landlord responsibilities when providing a washing machine

If you do decide to provide a washing machine for your tenants, you’ll need to make sure that your washing machine is in good working order and is safe to use. You should also highlight in the tenancy agreement that it is your responsibility to repair the washing machine should it break. 

This gives tenants peace of mind that you’re responsible for any maintenance. The only time where this is not applicable is if a tenant breaks the washing machine due to misusing it. So, to avoid this, you could even consider including tips on how to care for your washing machine so that tenants have guidance on this. 

It is also important to mention that if you’ve decided to provide a washing machine, you’ll need to ensure that you are adhering to electrical and safety standards. 

Can a landlord charge for a washing machine?

A landlord cannot charge a tenant for the washing machine being used by their tenant unless it specifically states so in the tenancy agreement and the tenant has agreed to it. Usually, however, this is not the case. As mentioned above, the only time when a tenant would need to contribute towards a washing machine is if they’ve misused the washing machine and it needs to be repaired. 

Insurance for washing machines

As a landlord, you may be looking into insuring your white goods if you provide them for your tenants. At CIA Landlords, we find the best deals for landlord contents insurance. With this coverage, you’ll be able to protect your belongings in any furnished or semi-furnished property from damage or theft. 

So, does a landlord have to provide a washing machine?

So, you’re now aware that, as a landlord, you are not legally required to provide your tenants with a washing machine. However, if you feel it would be beneficial to do so, then make sure that your washing machine is safe enough for your tenants to use and that you’re able to manage repairs should you need to. 

We recommend that you add to your tenancy agreement whether or not you’re going to be providing your tenants with any white goods so that they are aware of what they will have access to so that if they need to bring their own washing machine, for example, they have time to plan for this. 

Remember, providing certain white goods for your tenants means that your property will stand out compared to other properties that don’t offer white goods, making it more attractive on the market. 

Our landlord contents insurance quotes cover things like washing machines, dishwashers, fridges, tumble dryers, and furniture. Be sure to contact us at CIA Landlords on 01788 818 670 for more information on how you can protect your belongings.