My Property Manager Wants To Charge Me A Penalty Fee Of $75 For My Washer That Should Be Allowed According To My Lease

Location: Philadelphia

I rented my current apartment back in June of this year, and was told by the leasing agent that I’d be able to connect a washer to the w/d hookups. The washer hookups are even highlighted as a feature of the unit in the listing for the apartment, and on top of that, there was a 2 in 1 washer/dryer unit hooked up in the closet during my tour of the building.

I finally get around to purchasing a portable washer that can hook up to both my sink and traditional hookups, and requested assistance from my maintenance team to remove the caps on the water faucets. Now I’m being told that washers and dryers are prohibited because the building is too old (built in 1927) and that I will be charged a penalty fee for additional water usage if I use my washer in my unit. I read the lease several times and it does not state in any terms whatsoever that washers are prohibited. The property manager is saying they’re banning washers in unit because they have a laundry room in the basement (that barely works half the time) to supplement the need for one.

I brought up my lease to my property manager, and provided screenshots of the original listing that I had applied through. I even provided a photo of the washer that was in the unit from June. My property manager is doubling down with a “sorry you were misinformed, but you’ll need to get rid of your washer or be charged a penalty fee of $75/mo.”

Is this something I might be able to take to court? Any help is appreciated.