When a landlord replaces a new stove for a good tenant, and then the tenant cracks the new glass top, who pays to repair it? Each week veteran landlord and property manager Hank Rossi answers questions from other landlords and property managers around the country about their rentals.
Dear Landlord Hank:
I have tenants I love. But, they have a tradition of cooking foods for long periods of time on the stove. I repeatedly repaired the electric stove (wires and sockets were burned beyond recognition). Finally I replaced it with a glass top stove in the hopes that it would be sealed against foods spilling and the related damage. At that time, I admonished them that long-term cooking should happen in a crockpot and not on the stove. Well the new stove is two years old and the top has cracked. They are asking me to repair it. What do I tell them? I want them to get it repaired as per the lease agreement?
-Brent
Dear Landlord Brent,
You’ve already gone above and beyond, in my opinion, to repair andreplace tenant damage to your property.
I would tell the tenants that the last stove they damaged was brand new and working properly when installed. And, that they, the tenants, are responsible for any damage. You are not repairing or replacing the stove anymore.
I’d insist that they take care of it. And, to let you know when they have, so you can inspect.
If they move because of this, I would think you would have the right to deduct replacement cost of the stove from security deposit.
Sincerely,
Hank Rossi
Other recent Dear Landlord Hank posts you may have missed:
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Dear Landlord Hank: Do You Conduct Rental Inspections? How Often?
Dear Landlord Hank: How Do I Motivate My Tenants To Conserve Water?
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Dear Landlord Hank: Should I Give A Tenant More Time To Pay?
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About the author Landlord Hank:
“I started in real estate as a child watching my father take care of our family rentals- maintenance, tenant relations, etc, in small town Ohio. As I grew, I was occasionally Dad’s assistant. In the mid-90s I decided to get into the rental business on my own, as a sideline. In 2001, I retired from my profession and only managed my own investments, for the next 10 years. Six years ago, my sister, working as a rental agent/property manager in Sarasota, Florida convinced me to try the Florida lifestyle. I gave it a try and never looked back. A few years ago we started our own real estate brokerage. We focus on property management and leasing. I continue to manage my real estate portfolio here in Florida and Atlanta. “ Visit Hank’s website here.
Photo credit brizmaker via istockphoto.com