As landlords, are we allowed to charge tenants for not letting scheduled techs in?

[Jerry Poon]

There is a property I manage with a couple of issues that require fixing. We are scheduling with the tenant on when the technician can go inside. If the tenant and I agree to a schedule, the technician shows up at the scheduled time, and no one lets in the technician, am I allowed to charge the tenant for this?

The technician will need to be paid either way, so if the tenant doesn't let him in, then I (or the owner) is on the hook for the cost. Therefore I want to protect the owner and I and pass on any charges incurred if the tenant doesn't oblige by the schedule. Is this allowed?

We have a lockbox where the technician can let himself in anyways, but this little thought exercise has me curious.

[Theresa Harris]

I would make sure that I was there to let the person in unless I knew for sure that a tenant was able to do it without any problems (eg not having to take time off work).  It is convenient to have the tenant do it, but you should be the one letting them in and ensuring the work is done, etc.