Broker advertised AC and Laundry In-unit... it has neither on moving day

Submitted by predilect t3_100yedd in CambridgeMA

My GF and I signed a lease for a newly renovated apartment on 12/6. We toured on 11/26 and visited the same unit with the broker on 12/10 to take measurements. In the apartment listing it stated that there was central AC and in-unit laundry. BOTH times we toured, we saw that there was a washer and dryer in one of the closets and the thermostat was clearly capable of both heat and AC. Today was our move in day, the washer/dryer are gone and setting the thermostat to AC just blows room temp air.

We got in contact with the broker who initially was shocked at this too. Then the property management company got back to him and told him that and the price was lowered (from $3900 to $3600) and the new price was to reflect that there was no laundry or AC. Apparently this is because there is an issue with the electricity. When we toured on 12/10 the rent had already been reduced but there was a washer/dryer in the unit at that time and no mention of any electricity issues.

We were never told of the change until today and both times we toured it literally had a washer/dryer. What legal rights do we have in this situation?

edit: Forgot to mention, there are 6 units in the building and we are only the second unit to move in AFAIK. We spoke to the other couple that moved in today and they stated that it was also misrepresented to them in the exact same way.

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Comments

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dagaetch t1_j2kwn6j wrote

IANAL. Read your lease. Does it say anything about air conditioning or laundry appliances? If so, they aren't upholding the lease and you could at a minimum break it I would think. Alternatively you could maybe claim false advertising, but...honestly, being able to break the lease is probably the best you can hope for. Legally they're required to provide heat, but not AC, and definitely not laundry.

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SheeEttin t1_j2kxa80 wrote

What does your lease say?

You could argue that it was misrepresented and agree to terminate the lease, if you don't want to live there. If you like it otherwise, tell them you'll buy a new washer and dryer and deduct it from the rent. As for the AC, not much you can do about that. Maybe ask for another reduction, but if they said it's already reduced then that's not likely.

I'm not aware of any specific provision in Massachusetts regarding misrepresentation of housing. It's probably just covered by regular contract law.

More resources: https://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/housing/forrenters

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sowtime444 t1_j2l7193 wrote

I'd ask for specifics on what the electricity issue is as a start. As others mentioned, what does it say in the lease about AC and laundry?

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moneybagz1023 t1_j2nadi7 wrote

if you want to stay in the place your best bet is to use these as leverage in negotiation to lower your rent further. AC and in unit laundry are amenities worth far more than $300 a month, imo. Or as others have mentioned just break the lease.

I would also ask about electrical - is there a 220v hookup for a future wash and dryer? You should negotiate a cheaper rent then buy a cheap wash/dry unit for yourself.

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Mr_Pathfinder t1_j2pb38t wrote

I always recommend if you can go through Oxford realty on Mass Ave either through Jeff or Jackie. Two phenomenal people. All the times I've rented in Cambridge never steered me wrong. To have anything fixed anything like that was within reason.

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