Laundry Fee

you could broach the subject gently, and say that the understanding was when you moved in that the rent was already assumed to be priced inclusive of the laundry and recall the conversation for your LL. Ideally you should have added this to a short and sweet rider to the lease, but as i have learned almost no one seems to do this. The other posters are correct, this could be thought of as a regular rent increase, but maybe your LL will let it slide for another year. Let them know you are happy with the place and enjoy it, but your understanding was that it was already priced into the rental for you (although perhaps not the other tenants). Good luck, i don’t think it hurts to ask without pushing too hard and making them feel like you are ungrateful for the “new” amenity.

dorkofwindsor

in General Discussion 9 years and 10 months ago

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angelique.m.west | 9 years and 10 months ago

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About a year ago I rented an apartment in a four-family house in which access to a washer-dryer was to be included in the rent. The landlord, however, didn’t get around to setting up the laundry room in the basement until about 11 months after I signed the lease. Now that the room is up and running he’s imposing a $50 per month fee for all tenants who want use of the washer-dryer. In return, he’s not raising the rent for year two of my lease. Still, the fee seems kind of excessive. Anyone ever hear of this kind of fee in a rental? And is it worth gently pushing back? I don’t begrudge the landlord some extra cash but he’s getting fair market rent already for the apartments. Thoughts?

resident2 | 9 years and 10 months ago

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Your lease is up for renewal; look at it as the “increase” that he is not giving you. Or in other words he is now charging for the addition of the washer & dryer. It is six of one half a dozen of the other. I am assuming he did not install a coin operated One? Which would have been better for all tenants and the landlord and then not given an increase or Laundry charge. Because you will see some tenants using a whole load to wash one item… this is what happens when tenants do not pay per load, or invite all their friends to come visit and do their laundry while “hanging out”… Water, gas, electric etc. all cost money. And the convenience of not having to go out to do laundry or send it out is worth something!

Arkady | 9 years and 10 months ago

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I haven’t done it recently so don’t know prices but I’d think it’d be cheaper to take it to a launderette – one that does the work for you.

Guest User | 9 years and 10 months ago

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You should make a stink. But I bet the landlord raises your rent $100

sw9890 | 9 years and 10 months ago

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If it isn’t a rent stabilized unit (which it doesn’t sound like it is), the landlord is free to increase the rent to whatever he wants. He is just naming it wrong. It shouldn’t be a laundry fee but rather a lease increase.

sw9890 | 9 years and 10 months ago

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If it isn’t a rent stabilized unit (which it doesn’t sound like it is), the landlord is free to increase the rent to whatever he wants. He is just naming it wrong. It shouldn’t be a laundry fee but rather a lease increase.