should the landlord pay the tenant

Question

A new tenant of mine, fixed and installed a few minor things in the rental. Our verbal agreement was that I will reimburse him for the material. Now he is asking for both material and labor. Unfortunately his price is very high. FYI, he works for a construction company.

What's the best way to deal with this as I prefer to keep the good relationship we have and minimize any bad behavior and resentment from the tenant? Thank you

Account Closed · Answer

@Kia Zhu   ---  pay him and never hire a tenant to do work . There are too many ways for things to go wrong , including poor workmanship, injury claims from an unisured worker to exactly what is going on with your situation.

Thomas S. · Answer

In situations such as this, where a new tennat is clearly attempting to take advantage of their landlord, you never appease them to maintain a "good" relationship. You do not have a good relationship and it is clear that the tenant could care less.

Unless you want to be dominated by your new tenant you stick to the original verbal agreement and inform your tenant if they are not happy they are more than welcome to leave.

If you pay him what he wants you are being controlled by your tenant, if you pay only for the materials, as agreed, you are in control of your business. Who would you prefer to have in control.

Landlords that are afraid to be in control should be using a PM to manage their properties.

As stated you never allow tenants to do any work under any circumstances.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

Stick with the verbal agreement and tell him you won't be using him for repairs any more.

In the future, any agreements like this should be in writing. State specifically what work is allowed, what materials will be used, what will be compensated (with limits) and a completion date. Also tell them (in writing) that if the job is not completed or completed properly, you will hire a contractor to finish / fix the job and charge the tenant for it.

Kia Zhu · Answer

Thanks Patrick. I need to mention that I appreciated their honesty on the material cost.

Jim, I understand your statement. This seemed too easy and most likely it's not over. By visiting the property I will try to make sure the place is not falling apart. For sure I will not let them work on the rental.

Talking about repairs, I am constantly having difficulty finding good contractors and when I do find one, they move out of the area (or get big projects that they have no interest in residential projects). That's when I feel I have no choice and fix as much as I have the time for.

Jason Bible · Answer

Amen to what Steven said.  Pay him and never EVER do this again.

Jim K. · Answer

@Kia Zhu

This is not over. Don't for a minute think it is. There may be enormous bad feelings here on the part of the tenant being kept under wraps that will eventually express themselves in poor treatment of your property. It's my experience that you don't fix issues like this that easily, especially in low-income properties, especially with suspicious immigrants who often believe they are being taken advantage of and treated condescendingly/disrespectfully. You're going to pay for this education sooner or later, one way or another, and you're probably not going to feel that the payment is fair. When it comes, I would accept it as part of the cost of learning never to let your tenant do repairs on your property.

Patrick M. · Answer

@Kia Zhu I am impressed. This is one of the very few times when I have seen someone on here take the proper advice and act on it!

The late rent thing was a few months over due, but you addressed it, good work.

There can be no mistaking from your post who is regaining control- the landlord.

Well done... feels good doesn’t it!

Dennis M. · Answer

Tenants are not your contractor. Donot have these people doing your work . You’ll be sorry and disappointed if you do .

Kia Zhu · Answer

Great input. I appreciate everyone's suggestions and I apologize for my late response.

I need to mention that the contractor's English is not that good, so I communicated through his wife (Native speaker).

As they were a bit behind on their rent 3 times and I didn't bring it up to them. I told her to pay by the 1st, as I can't forgive late payments anymore. Also I told her that the agreement between me and her husband was that I pay for the material. She told me that she will talk to her husband and get back to me.

A day after, she promised that she will pay on time to avoid late fees and that after talking to her husband she thinks there was a misunderstanding, but its all good and I don't need to pay anything. I insisted on giving me the material cost, which she didn't have the receipt but said it was less than $20. Originally her husband wanted $200.

Colleen F. · Answer

I agree with  Thomas s. on this one.  State firmly that you verbally agreed to materials and that is what you will reimburse.  I would also not use him for any repairs going forward.  What did you have him do ?  A newly rented unit should not need work and a few minor things should not be a lot of money.

should the landlord pay the tenant

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