Landlord or renter: who pays for a broken appliance?

This Realtor.com explainer tackles the specific flashpoint of a broken appliance in a rental: depending on the lease and how it failed, the cost can fall on the landlord or the tenant, and the line isn’t always obvious.

These disagreements usually come down to two questions — what actually broke, and was it wear-and-tear or misuse — and most people are arguing without solid answers to either. OwnWise supplies them: it identifies the likely fault, gives a sense of whether it reflects normal aging or damage, and estimates a fair repair or replacement cost. With that in hand, a renter can push back on an unfair charge and a landlord can resolve the claim quickly and reasonably.

A neutral diagnosis turns a standoff into a straightforward decision.