The tub was backed up every time the washing machine was being used. I asked the plumber to check it out. Started rotting and brought up feminine products that wasn’t supposed to be flushed. My fault, I had no idea that they were doing that A. Now I’ve added a clause in the month-to-month lease. It turned out to be a bigger problem than what it was. The plumber ended up breaking ground and worked on this issue for three days. They were working from noon to 10:00 p.m. for three days. The pipes were rebuilt and replaced. After that, sewer flies started coming out. I gave them the solution (baking soda, white vinegar, water) for this and handled it myself. My main concern now is they didn’t even talk to me about it. They took it upon themselves to pay me 525 instead of 700. I emailed them to explain and waiting on that e-mail. 

I meant they paid me $525 for rent vs the $700 that I am owed per month.

Did they withhold rent to pay for plumbing or something?   I dont let tenants deduct anything from rent. I think it just opens doors etc.. if i owe them money I pay them but I dont let them take it out of their rent because then they'll start doing it with every little thing 

Not that I know of. I had spoken with the plumber not to charge them anything until I had come back from out of town but to still work on whatever they had to do. I am still waiting for their (tenant) explanation. 

Once they told me of the issue it writing, the same day I e-mailed them and reminded them that I was out of town and gave them the number for the plumber and to call them directly and to save all receipts. It appears they’re withholding rent because I didn’t resolve the problem right away, myself, directly.

@Deisy P. , is this a single-family house or multi?

If it's a single, make sure to put in your leases that plumbing clog, if caused by tenant, shall be the tenant's financial responsibility; if it's ordinary wear/tear, or tree roots cloging the main, that's on the owner.  If the plumber finds 'hygiene junk' or a toy Barney the Dinosaur caused the clog, well, that's on the tenant.

If it is a multi-family, you're kinda stuck.  However, since life holds no guarantees, I'd NOT let the tenant deduct anything from the rent.  Especially with what they pulled up from the line.

True story:  toilet clog, found the cause was a toothbrush inside the toilet.  It was shown to the tenant, who admitted it was theirs.  When they were charged for the plumbing service, they responded:  "Well, if I would have known you would charge me for that, I wouldn't have had it done!"

Wonder if they replaced or just re-used the toothbrush...  Ugh!

@Deisy P. , btw, much better to contact the plumber yourself directly, and give the plumber the tenant's contact info.  We do that with all our vendors--they make the appointments directly with the tenant after we send them a work order.  Follow up in 24--48 hours with the tenant to make sure the work is getting done.

Another btw, if the plumber had to dig up your sewer main, there was much more going on that a flushed tampon.  In our area we still see terracotta main sewers, that after 80 or 100 years break, collapse, and make life smelly for all involved.

Check with your local utility provider to see if they offer insurance for water mains and sewer clogs/replacement.

@Marc Winter it is a multi-unit. Yes, I added on the clause for the new lease that no feminine products or flushable wipes be flushed down the toilet. ONLY toilet paper. I’ll add that plumbing clog clause for the next month. I JUST missed it. But now my concern is how willI I have them pay the remaining $175. They have been a good tenant for almost two years and have NEVER been late in payment and during the fix, it took 3 days and they weren’t able to use the toilet because the plumbers had to break ground. They didn’t stay anywhere else. They kept staying their every day which was odd. 

@Marc Winter I did give them the number for the plumber right away and asked them to keep all receipts. I advised the plumber I had given them their contact info.  The plumber texted me and told me they didn’t call them until 5 days later. Thanks for the tip on the insurance. It was ultimately was a very expensive job. I’ll check on that.

"The plumber texted me and told me they didn’t call them until 5 days later."  Does that mean the plumber didn't contact the tenant for 5 days, or the tenant didn't respond to the plumber?  If that was the plumber--time to get a new one.  If, what seems more likely, it was the tenant that delayed, well, that's why I always make contact with the vendor myself and let them contact the tenant.

@Deisy P. --time to have a one-on-one conversation with them to find out the details of why they feel entitled to the deduction.

Also, try to find out where they were dumping the bucket they were using for their toilet....

@Marc Winter I e-mailed the tenant right away giving them the info to the plumber. They didn’t call them until 5 days later. I don’t know why they waited to call them. This will be discussed after they respond and explain why they took it upon themselves to pay me less.

@Deisy P.

Follow protocol for partial rent payments.

Late fee is now applied.

3 day notice if not paid by x date.

If they want a discount for not being able to use their bathroom then it should be communicated.

Honestly you should have offered imo a discount for it. Its not their fault you did not have a proper lease indicating what cant be flushed down the toilet.

They had paid the plumber and didn’t tell me. They showed me a receipt. I also refunded a partial amount for their inconvenience. 

@Deisy P.   I'd check with the plumber to see who paid for it.  The plumber should have billed you and you should have prorated the rent for the 3 days that the plumbing wasn't working- not including the 5 days that they didn't call the plumber.

Originally posted by @Theresa Harris :

@Deisy Perez  I'd check with the plumber to see who paid for it.  The plumber should have billed you and you should have prorated the rent for the 3 days that the plumbing wasn't working- not including the 5 days that they didn't call the plumber.

Right. Yep I did that. I prorated the rent.