Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Maryland

When I moved into my four unit apartment complex, it had a separate laundry facility. The washing area has two washers and two dryers. One of each has broken down. The landlord continues to raise the price to launder clothes but refuses to fix the other machines. Is there anything I can do?

There is no specific mention of the laundry facility in my lease, however, having the facility itself and being it is a pay-to-use facility gives me the assumption it's implied that the landlord would take responsibility for its services. The fact it cost one dollar and fifty cents to wash and the same price to dry would make me think the landlord has enough to cover in just pure profit from the wash room to cover either repair or replacement and it is inherently their responsibility as having the facility is one of the reasons I choose the apartment in the first place.

Maryland, Baltimore County.

Thanks.


Asked on 7/23/11, 6:37 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Phillip M. Cook Cook Legal Services, LLC

If laundry services are not discussed in your lease, then a Maryland court would likely rule that the landlord is offering you the laundry services separate and apart from his obligations under the lease. In other words, if you don't like the laundry facility the landlord offers, and it's not discussed in your lease, you can go somewhere else and do your laundry. The court likely will NOT imply anything into a written lease. Before you sign another lease, have a lawyer review it for you.

Best of luck.*****The above is for informational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client privilege.********

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Answered on 7/24/11, 8:48 pm


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