Should I allow my tenant to fix this?

Question

I did a search for this specific question but couldn't find a post so decided to add it in. I have a tenant that wants to do some repairs to the house. Today they asked if they could caulk a gap under the kitchen sink. They also asked if they could sand down the entrance for a kitchen drawer so it opened more easily.

What are your thoughts on allowing your tenants to do this kind of stuff? I know most stuff like HVAC repair, plumbing, and electrical should all be hired out by a professional but what about minor things like this? Or should all requests be handled by a handyman?

Account Closed · Answer

For me it's not about liability or the tenants causing damage.  But rather making sure that the tenant repair isn't a temporary fix for something more serious. Take the drawer. They say the drawer is sticking and want to sand the entrance.  What if the drawer is sticking because the cabinet is losing square.....because the base is damaged, or because the floor is sinking.  What if the gap they want to caulk is because of water damage or shifting?

There as many opinions about how to fix something as there are people. Someone on your team should be assessing the problem, not the tenants.

Andrew Syrios · Answer

Minor things are probably fine, but I would highly recommend you avoid trading repairs for rent reductions. You should make it clear up front that that isn't going to fly.

Joseph Weisenbloom · Answer

On a similar note what are your thoughts on lawn maintenance? I currently have it written into the lease that the tenants are responsible for all lawn and yard maintenance. This was boilerplate language for the TREC (texas real estate commission) lease.

The more I think about it I would be more worried about liability with a tenant cutting the grass than sanding a drawer. Just because with cutting grass they are using the motorized instrument of a mower. That that being said grass can grow back.

Thoughts?

@Marcia Maynard Account Closed

Account Closed · Answer

On SFR we require the tenant to take care of the yards, grass and shrubs, we take care of the trees larger than 6 feet.

Marcia Maynard · Answer

We take care of lawn maintenance in multifamily properties.  We hold the tenant responsible for lawn maintenance in single family homes.  We take care of shrub and tree maintenance on all of our properties.

Some of our SFH tenants hire a lawn care service and some mow and edge the lawn themselves.  We hire a lawn care service and landscapers and arborists as well for the properties that we maintain.

Joseph Weisenbloom · Answer

Thanks guys for the input. Just to clarify the only reason I am asking if they can do this because they asked if they could. I'm not trying to be cheap or skimp on a handyman visit. If they complained and requested someone to fix it then I definitely would send someone over there.

Its sounding like most folks are saying I shouldn't allow them to do it. I will call them tomorrow and tell them to hold off. Its hard to imagine how anyone could incur any liability or cause much damage from caulking something and using sand paper. I am not a lawyer though and I can understand how weird legal things work.

Kyle Hipp · Answer

I would not have a problem letting a tenant do minor tweeks, adjustments and repairs suchas this but if I were I your shoes I would have thanked the tenant for bringing this to my attention and would be over there fixing it myself the same day.

Account Closed · Answer

I say thank the tenant for the call and get yourself or someone over there for an hour's worth of labor to caulk under the sink and make the drawer work properly.  That's basic stuff you or someone on your team should be taking care of.  Some things will go unnoticed when you are getting a rental ready.  And then become apparent when someone is living there everyday.  Now that you're aware of it, take care of it.

John E. · Answer

I'd definitely caution you letting a tenant do work that you should technically be doing. I'm not trying to put you down at all it's just that you've got to weigh the risk of liability claims against you. You definitely don't want to jeopardize your business because Sally or John Doe claims you weren't doing your job and as a result they were injured.

I've heard of crazy lawsuits like people suing someone for giving them CPR! People can turn against you in a heart beat!

Should I allow my tenant to fix this?

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