Question 1

Can my landlord charge me for a broken appliance?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what caused the failure. Mechanical failure from normal aging (a 12-year-old refrigerator compressor dying) is the landlord's responsibility. However, damage caused by tenant misuse — such as overloading a dishwasher, breaking a refrigerator shelf, or using the wrong cleaning products — can be deducted from your security deposit, subject to depreciation.

Question 2

How is appliance depreciation calculated for deposit deductions?

Accepted Answer

Landlords must prorate the cost based on the appliance's remaining useful life. For example, if a refrigerator has a 15-year lifespan and was 10 years old when damaged, the landlord can only charge for 5/15 (33%) of the replacement cost, not the full amount. HUD guidelines provide standard useful life ranges for common appliances.

Question 3

What is the expected lifespan of common rental appliances?

Accepted Answer

According to HUD guidelines: refrigerators last 10-15 years, dishwashers 9-12 years, ranges/ovens 13-15 years, washing machines 10-13 years, dryers 10-14 years, and garbage disposals 8-12 years. Landlords must use these depreciation schedules when calculating any deduction for appliance damage.

Question 4

Can a landlord charge me for an appliance that was already old?

Accepted Answer

If an appliance was already at or past its expected useful life when it failed, the landlord generally cannot charge you at all — even if your actions contributed to the failure. An appliance that has exceeded its useful life has a depreciated value of zero. This applies even if the specific cause of failure was tenant misuse.

Can My Landlord Charge Me for Appliance Damage? Here's the Rule