I put up with a variety of shitty appliances because I'm a renter in 2025 who doesn't anticipate ever owning a home, but if I were in the business of outfitting my place with appliances, they sure as shit would not be the crap quality touch sensor microwave, oven, and dishwasher we currently use, or the dumbass laundry machines with stupid arbitrary labels for each setting. The fridge is fine, it has a door, that's all it needs to do. I want buttons.
renting nowadays is a nightmare if you dislike this stuff.
You may be forced into:
- "smart" door locks or garage
- wifi connected thermostat
- specific provider for building internet
- various appliances: washer, dryer, fridge, stove, microwave, dishwasher
- "package room provider" with cameras and privacy policy to photo/video of you, your address, your phone number (for access codes)
- and of course the application process...
I'm sure it differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction around the world, but the application processes are categorically insane. Feed all of your personal information, very very personal information, into this form with this provider that will keep it on file and definitely do nothing else with it for X years, or you can't have anywhere to live. It wasn't even so bad when there was only one provider so at least you didn't have to repeat this with multiple different platforms, but the last time I was in the rental market every different agency had their own platform.
I'm sure if you called you could still manage to do an old-fashioned style form, but not only is that a huge inconvenience, I'd be very worried that agencies would just ignore it if the property was popular and had good competition.
In my country you usually browse the advertisements, call the owner, and if you like the apartment (and they like you) you can sign the contract and move in.