Renting in LA? What to Know About Appliance Repair

With as much of San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles living in apartments and rental homes, “who pays for this repair” comes up almost as often as the repair itself.

In Most Cases, It’s the Landlord’s Responsibility

Under California habitability law, landlords are generally responsible for keeping essential appliances that were provided with the unit — typically refrigerators, ranges or ovens, and sometimes dishwashers and washer/dryers depending on the lease — in working condition. If an appliance that came with the rental breaks through normal use, it’s usually on the landlord or property manager to arrange and pay for repair, not the tenant.

Tenant-Owned Appliances Are a Different Situation

If you brought your own washer, dryer, or portable dishwasher into a rental, that’s on you to maintain and repair, the same as if you owned the home. Renters increasingly bring their own appliances into apartments and ADUs that weren’t originally equipped with them, and it’s worth knowing which category yours falls into before assuming coverage either way.

What to Do as a Tenant With a Broken Appliance

Document the issue in writing to your landlord or property manager as soon as you notice it — a text or email with a date creates a record if a dispute comes up later. Ask directly whether they’ll arrange the repair or want you to schedule it and forward the invoice. Either way, having the model number and a clear description of the symptom ready speeds things up regardless of who’s coordinating the visit.

We Work With Both Tenants and Property Managers

We regularly get calls directly from tenants who’ve been asked to arrange their own appliance repair and get reimbursed, as well as calls from property managers coordinating repairs across multiple units. Either way works — we just need clarity on who’s authorizing the repair and who’s receiving the invoice before we start.

A Note for Landlords and Property Managers

If you manage multiple rental units in San Fernando Valley, Burbank, or the surrounding area, having a repair company you can call once and describe the unit and issue — rather than coordinating tenant-by-tenant every time — tends to save real time over a portfolio of properties.

BST Repair Service works with tenants, homeowners, and property managers throughout San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles. Call (818) 408-4644 or schedule online.