Who should keep the washing machine?

[ProbablyLate]

Some tenants move into a rented house in which there is a washing machine that has been left by previous tenants. The landlord says they're happy to get rid of it for them ahead of their tenancy or it can be left in but they are warned it has no warranty and it might not work. The tenants request to keep it and use it for the duration of their tenancy. When the tenants move out should they be allowed to take the washing machine?

No harm in asking!

No, it’s not yours. They offered to remove it if you didn’t want it and said it wouldn’t be under warranty if you did use it… but none of that makes it yours. He didn’t give it to you.

That doesn’t mean he won’t give it to you if you ask to take it, or sell it to you, but it’s not yours at the moment.

Offer to pay a nominal amount for it? Say 50 quid

We had this before when a tenant left one.

We told the tenants that we could leave it in if they wanted to make use of it but that when it broke down we would not replace it and they would need to source their own. When they left it wasn't there so either was still working and they took it or had broken and they had replaced.

It was not on the inventory as I understand it is not on yours. Therefore I suspect the LL won't care if you want it.

You are correct. Do not take it without asking. But it is definitely worth asking!

It is not yours to take.It belongs to the property. Ask the landlord he might be glad to get rid of it.

If it’s not listed on the inventory, and you have proof you have paid for any repairs, then I would ask the landlord if you can take it on that basis. They would be hard pressed to come after your deposit for it if it’s not listed on the inventory.

I'm going to change my mind. It's not on the inventory so you can take it. You could have got rid of it ages ago for all your LL knows.

It's not on the inventory so take it. DP was left with so much "useful" uninventoried shit that he had to dispose of when he sold his mum's house (rented out to cover care fees), including a lawnmower, a freezer & a table.

I guess it would be a bit like them trying to take the toilet if they left. It now comes with the flat and perhaps the landlord should rewrite the tenancy agreement to reflect that.

No. I left a dishwasher and fridge freezer when I left my last rental. I left them instead of selling them because it was easier and my landlord was great. Not as a gift for the next tenant.

You paid to keep use if a wm during your tenancy, not to take ownership. Offer a nominal sum but tbh the hassle of disconnecting and transporting it may make it less of a bargain.

Of course you can’t take it, it’s not yours!