Broken or Unsafe Appliances: Your Rights as a Renter
Appliances that came with your unit are generally the landlord's responsibility to keep safe and working. Some problems, like a gas smell or sparking outlet, are emergencies — stop using the appliance and get help immediately.
Educational — information, not legal advice, and not attorney-reviewed. The exact rule depends on your state, city, and lease; the app shows the verified rule for where you live.
What this means
Some appliance problems are urgent. If you smell gas near a stove or oven, see sparking, smell something burning, or get shocked touching an appliance, stop using it immediately, unplug it if you safely can, and contact your landlord or utility right away. If the gas smell is strong, leave and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.
For appliances that came with your unit — a stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, or an in-unit washer and dryer provided as part of the lease — keeping them in safe working condition is generally the landlord's responsibility, similar to plumbing or electrical systems.
The line gets blurrier with appliances you brought yourself. A landlord generally isn't responsible for a microwave or personal washer you own, though they're still responsible for the electrical outlets and wiring that power it.
A broken appliance that's just inconvenient, like a slow dishwasher, is usually a lower-priority repair than one that's an active safety hazard. Framing your written report around safety, when it applies, tends to get faster attention.
What to do
- If there's a gas smell, sparking, burning smell, or shock risk, stop using the appliance immediately and treat it as an emergency.
- Take dated photos of the appliance and, if relevant, any damage or warning signs (frayed cords, scorch marks, error lights).
- Notify your landlord in writing describing the problem, whether it's a safety issue, and when it started.
- Note whether the appliance came with the unit or is something you brought yourself — that affects who's generally responsible.
- Keep a copy of every message and any repair visit, including what was or wasn't fixed.
- If a safety issue isn't addressed, Renter Shield can show you the options where you live, and lawhelp.org or 211 offer free local help.
What to do next
Habitability basics, requesting repairs in writing, water leak and flooding, retaliation protection
Free help — always free
- Call 211 · in a crisis, call or text 988 (or 211.org) for local help and referrals.
- Find free legal aid at lawhelp.org.
- Read HUD tenant rights.
- Call 911 in an emergency.
Know exactly where you stand.
Renter Shield shows your state's verified rule, drafts calm letters, tracks deadlines, and keeps your evidence private on your device — free to start.