Tenants requesting dishwasher

Our tenants lease is up in February and we have requested a 12 month lease at the same rent. The tenants have said they will sign again but only if a dishwasher is fitted. We are interstate so would require plumber etc to fit so it won't be cheap. Its for a 2 bed unit in Stafford.

What would you do in my situation?

 

Is there a dishwasher space in the kitchen or will a cupboard need to be removed to fit the dishwasher?

What else will this affect if you need to remove a cupboard?

Is there power for the dishwasher? Is that easily installed?

What is the vacancy rate in the area - how many other properties are up for lease at present? Will it be easier/cheaper to lose a week's rent than to install a dishwasher?

 

Stafford is near me, slight over supply of units, rents on the bit lower than usual to fill unless you have a top tier property in that bracket. If the tenants are good and worth keeping, if it were me I'd install the dishwasher - it is a benefit to the property going forward anyway. The dishwasher would cost around $450, add another $200 or so to procure, install, commission, test etc, and then another $150 if you need a sparky to install a GPO for it to plug into if there is no current provision.

 

Cheaper to install a dishwasher than find new tenants

 

All good points raised so far.

Here's a couple of other things to think about...

1. do it and raise the rent 2 bucks a week. Try and get something out of it.
2. Check re.com.au and see what is for rent in your area at your rental price. Is it comparable? Do other places have dishwashers?

 

Although the request sounds easy, it will be anything but simple. You'll have to measure to see if a dishwasher would fit. You'll have to remove a perfectly good lower cupboard door x2. The cupboards would have to be besides the existing sink for both the water supply and waste. You'll have to install a GPO for power. Optional, but if you're OCD, you'll need to "trim" the dishwasher so it looks neat in it's new location. Finally, you'll have to deal with the constant "the dishwasher is showing error code 99", so you'll send out a technician only to be told that the tenants clogged the pipes as they don't semi-clean the plates before loading the washer.

 

I would disagree with this.

 

I just swapped tenants. Lost a weeks rent and nearly 2 weeks lease fee. Plus advertising.

Lease renewal $75 plus even $800 for a dishwasher and I would break even.

 

The OP has a unit, so space would be at a premium I would have thought. Though I did have a unit years ago which had a dishwasher space.

 

A dishwasher install can be as simple as sliding it in and connecting the tap and waste to the sink drain and plug in power OR as complex as needing to rebuild a kitchen. No skills are needed if the kitchen is ready. If its a first install a holesaw may be needed. Depends on cabinets too. Some may have a inner liner and a plinth to be removed. Best ones have a big hole already. Others need costly mods. Appliancesonline.com.au will install deliver and tidy up and take the waste for approx $129 if the kitchen is ready. Freestanding ones can be a pain and bound a round etc. More a eyesore.

If you were local you can pick up an aldi machine for $399 or even less. CHECK all dimensions before purchase. If its too tall by even 5mm the lid should remove with 2 screws. This buys approx 15-25mm of space. Check install dimensions

I would find out if the kitchen has a dedicated cabinet space and services connected (usually within 1-2 cabinets of the sink). Then allow for the tenant to whinge that they will lose a cabinet.

 

Enoggera – Brisbane Whitegoods Factory Outlet

Get your PM to take accurate measurements and photos of where the dishwasher could go. Open the cabinet doors and take clear decent photos of what is inside the cupboards adjacent to the sink. You are looking for suitable plumbing and electricity outlet.

Does the unit have air con? If not, then later today they will be asking for AC.

 

not really, dishwashers are fairly simply, they only require 1-2 pipe connection and 1 powerpoint,

plus they dont break down very often, also its hard to abuse a dishwasher,

as for user error, if its their fault they get charged the call out fee for the plumber

 

Make them a counter-offer. They want:

• 12 month lease
• no rent increase
• a dishwasher

I would offer:

• 12 month lease
• no rent increase
• cover half the cost of the supply and install of a DW

If they accept that, you get the security of a new lease and a 50% discount on the addition of a DW to your property

 

With some of the big retailers you could negotiate installation as part of the purchse
Just get the tenant to measure the cavity to ensure the purchase will fit.
*assuming the apartment isn't all that old it should be standard