THE STOVE BILL

A landlord tried to bill a family for replacing a glass stovetop after nearly seven years in the same rental, and the only comparison photo came from the landlord.

The poster said the family had just moved out of a long-term apartment after the husband moved in in mid-2019 and they left in January 2026, "so just shy of 7 years." In that stretch, they also had a baby. Even so, they said they left the place in generally nice condition.

Then the move-out charges arrived.

The landlord wanted payment for repainting, cleaning the tub, and cleaning the oven, items the poster described as "kind of expected." But one charge stood out: the landlord had replaced the stovetop and wanted the tenants to cover that, too.

That's where the dispute started.

The poster said several other appliances had been replaced during their tenancy, and they had never been billed for those. They said they used the stove for about seven years and assumed it had not been replaced before the husband moved in. The problem was evidence: the poster couldn't find any photos from 2019 to compare the stovetop's condition.

"I can't find any pictures from 2019 of the stove," the poster wrote, adding, "I don't think it makes sense to expect it to look the same after 7 (and possibly more) years of use."

The landlord's photo, the poster said, was the basis for the claim. "The photo is from the landlord, their justification for replacing it."

To the family, the charge seemed excessive. They said they were in talks with the landlord because "we think it's a ridiculous charge," and they asked for advice on whether it was fair to be billed for a replacement after that long.

Then came the update.

In an edit, the poster said they ultimately decided to take full responsibility for all the charges, even the ones they still felt were questionable. No dramatic showdown, no last-minute standoff, just a final acceptance of the move-out bill, including the stovetop, after almost seven years of living with it.