Should I Include a Washer and Dryer in a Rental? What You Should Know

Having the right amenities is important when you’re offering an apartment or rental home. If you don’t research and think about it fully, you could find tenants passing you by time and again. If you’re wondering should I include a washer and dryer in a rental, you’re asking yourself the right questions that could have a solid long-term effect on your success rate each time you put it back on the market. But to be honest, it’s a complicated question.

That’s when having experience matters. Our Atlanta property managers have seen enough in the area to make informed decisions on not only what amenities to put in the units, but also which ones to choose when you do equip them. Let’s dive into this particular question, as well as dig deeper into some related questions that many owners and landlords often ask.

Table of Contents

• Pros and Cons for Including a Washer and Dryer
• Should I Include a Washer and Dryer in a Rental?
• FAQ
• When a Property Management Company Makes a Difference

Pros and Cons for Including a Washer and Dryer

Deciding whether to include a washer and dryer in a rental often comes down to weighing convenience against responsibility. For some owners, it feels like a no-brainer. For others, it’s something they avoid on purpose. Like most rental decisions, the right answer depends on the property, the market, and how involved the owner wants to be.

Pros:

• Makes the unit more attractive to renters
• Can help the property rent faster
• Adds convenience that tenants value
• May support slightly higher rent in some markets
• Reduces tenant reliance on shared or off-site laundry

Cons:

• Adds maintenance and repair responsibility
• Increases upfront costs
• Creates potential downtime issues if machines fail
• Can lead to misuse or heavier wear
• Adds another appliance to replace over time

Should I Include a Washer and Dryer in a Rental?

Now the question becomes, should I include a washer and dryer in a rental property. Deciding whether to comes down to some of your own personal situation. Some owners swear by it, while others avoid it entirely. The decision usually comes down to how competitive the rental market is, what tenants expect, and how much extra responsibility you want to have.

Here’s the thing. Including a washer and dryer can make a rental feel more “complete”. Because hey, a lot of tenants don’t want to deal with shared laundry rooms or trips to a laundromat. That convenience can translate into faster leasing and, in some cases, an even small rent upcharge. At the same time, supplying appliances means taking on repairs, replacements, and the occasional tenant misuse. For owners who prefer a more hands-off setup, that tradeoff can feel like too much.

Local expectations matter a lot here. In some cities and neighborhoods, in-unit laundry is assumed, while in others it’s still seen as a bonus. In Atlanta specifically, roughly About 1/3 of multifamily homes in the Atlanta area have washers and dryers, which is on the low side. That means not having them won’t automatically sink a listing, but having them can help a unit stand out depending on the renter demographic and what the particular neighborhood expects.

For many owners, the decision lands somewhere in the middle. In most places a washer and dryer isn’t required… for example, it isn’t required in Georgia. Some provide hookups but not the machines, others lease appliances instead of owning them outright, and some include washers and dryers only in certain units. Thinking through tenant expectations, maintenance tolerance, and long-term costs for your particular units is the way to go.

FAQ

Do landlords have to provide washer and dryer​?

If you’re asking yourself should I include a washer and dryer in a rental, the first question is whether it is required. In most cases, landlords are not legally required to provide a washer and dryer. These appliances are usually considered optional amenities rather than habitability requirements. Unless local laws or lease agreements specifically say otherwise, it’s generally up to the owner whether to include them or not.

Do most rental houses come with washer and dryer?

It depends on the market and the type of home, but many single-family rental houses do include washer and dryer hookups, even if the machines themselves aren’t always provided. In some areas, including a washer and dryer is common and expected, while in others tenants are used to bringing their own. Expectations tend to be higher in suburban areas and family-oriented rentals than in smaller or older properties.

Do all apartments have washer and dryer hookups?

Not really. Older buildings and smaller apartment complexes often rely on shared laundry rooms or off-site options. Newer apartments are more likely to include hookups or in-unit machines, but availability still varies widely by age of the building, location, and local rental norms.

When a Property Management Company Makes a Difference

Wrestling with whether to get a washer and dryer (and if so, which one to get) is just one of a lot of things you have to worry about with rental property. Don’t you wish there was a better way? There is! Hire a property manager to help. With Bay Property Management Group as your trusted property management company, you can guarantee that your units have what they need and what tenants expect.

Contact Us Today! 

We’re your consultant for every part of the rental journey. We pride ourselves on overseeing it all, from inspections to maintenance and everything in between. Contact Bay Management Group now, and see how we can help you with it all. We are a reliable property management company in Decatur and Atlanta areas, as well as in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Virginia, Texas, and elsewhere.