My Rental’s Dryer Broke: Who Do I Call? (Ventura, CA)

If you rent your home in Ventura and the dryer stops working, the right first call is not always obvious. Here is how to handle it correctly, whether you rent a house, an apartment, or a room in a shared property.

Start With Your Landlord or Property Manager, Not a Repair Company

In most rental situations, the dryer belongs to the property, not to you, which means the landlord or property manager is typically responsible for arranging and paying for the repair. Contacting them first, in writing if possible, creates a clear record of when you reported the issue.

What to Include When You Report It

• What the dryer is actually doing, such as not heating, not starting, or making a specific noise
• When the problem started
• Whether it is a safety concern, such as a burning smell
• Your availability for a repair visit

If Your Landlord Says to Call Us Directly

Some landlords and property managers prefer tenants to contact a repair company directly and have the invoice billed to them. If that is the arrangement, let us know at the time of booking so we can confirm billing details before the visit rather than after.

If You Are Not Sure Who Is Responsible

Lease agreements vary, and appliance responsibility is not always spelled out clearly. If you are unsure, your lease itself is the first place to check, and your landlord is still the right first contact even if the answer is not obvious to you yet.

When It Might Be Worth Calling Us Yourself

If the dryer is something you personally own and brought into the rental, rather than one that came with the property, the repair is generally your own responsibility. In that case, our electric and gas dryer repair pages cover what to expect from a standard visit.

Rental Dryer Questions

My landlord is slow to respond. Can I just call a repair company myself and expect reimbursement?

That depends entirely on your lease and your landlord’s own policy, so it is worth confirming with them directly before assuming reimbursement, rather than assuming it will be automatic.

Does it matter if I rent a single-family home versus an apartment unit?

The general first step is the same either way, contact whoever manages the property. Apartment complexes sometimes have a dedicated maintenance request system rather than a single landlord contact, so use whichever reporting method your specific property provides.