tenant moved out and did not clear snow

Investor · lehigh valley, PA · Member since 2014 · 242 posts · 23 votes

Had a tenant move out and did not clear the 40 foot long sidewalk. It is a sheet of ice and cleared it myself and used a bag of rocksalt. Would you charge them for that and how much? It stated in lease they are responsible for this.

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Michael Salamone

Rental Property Investor · CT · Member since 2020 · 28 posts · 17 votes

@Jimmy S.

Just curious, what is your worst tenant experience?

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Account Closed
Member since 2021 · 240 posts · 300 votes
4y
I would not. I also hear on here you can't charge them when you do the work, i.e. you don't get to pay yourself for it. If that's the biggest concern and the tenant is gone I wouldn't worry about it.
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Bill B.
Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
4y
You can write off the bag of salt on your taxes. If you had paid someone you could have charged the tenant that much but you can’t charge for your labor. (Probably a few too many landlords charged $200/hr for something similar.)
As mentioned, that’s a dream problem to have as your biggest concern. Take the win. Though I assume finding a winter tenant isn’t great either. GL.
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Scott M.
Real Estate Broker · Rochester Hills, MI · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
4y
First, know the law in your local area. A lot of places do not allow an owner to charge a tenant for their personal time. If you wanted to charge them you would have had to hire it out (again, most places).
Even if you can, should you? Was the rest of the home spotless? Or is this just 1 thing out of 100?
If the home was spotless or close to it I would not charge them anything. If this was item 1 out of 100, well, see above first.
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Theresa HarrisPro Member
Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
4y
Yes I would charge them. If you did it yourself, you are basically out the cost of the supplies. If you paid someone, as Bill said take it off the deposit. Most cities require the snow be cleared within a specified time as it is a liability.
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Janet Behm
Accountant · West Jordan, UT · Member since 2017 · 182 posts · 95 votes
4y
Jimmy, read your lease. When did the lease expire? How many days does the community standards allow for snow removal?
Getting the job done yourself is "good karma" and you, as the property owner, is where the "Buck stops." Good avoiding a fine from the "snow police!"
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Sam Shueh
Real Estate Agent · Cupertino, CA · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
4y
Probably the salt material. Even they cleared and few will. By the time you are ready to put it on the market you got the same thing again.
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Matt M.
Specialist · Easton, PA · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
4y
@Jimmy S.
If they were out when they said they’d be out, I’d be happy with that. Who cares about having to shovel a sidewalk. Far worse things to worry about.
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Michael Salamone
Rental Property Investor · CT · Member since 2020 · 28 posts · 17 votes
4y
@Jimmy S.
Just curious, what is your worst tenant experience?
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Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
4y
This is a no-brainer. The lease requires it, they didn't do it, so you hire someone to do it and charge the tenant.

As others have said, doing the work yourself and then charging the tenant usually won't stand up in court because there's a conflict of interest. The tenant is paying for it, so use an outside source and have an invoice.
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Joe SplitrockPro Member
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Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
4y
I have had tenants move out, not clearing snow or cleaning up leaves. If it is minor clean up, I let it go. If it is substantial, I hire it done and deduct from deposit, sharing the invoice with them as proof of expense.

I let tenants know they are responsible for lawn and snow up until the last day of their lease. Even if they move out before the end of the lease, they need to freshly mow or clear snow right before move out. We put that on our move-out checklist and I text a reminder if I see something isn't getting done. There are no surprised if they get charged, because they were well warned.
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Daniel SmythPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Rockford, IL · Member since 2019 · 471 posts · 342 votes
4y
@Jimmy S.
No.
Grasping at straws?
Gone is good! Move on!
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