Tenant responsibility for small repairs?

Question

I don't like to deal with small (~$500 worth) of repairs, e.g. plumbing etc. Is it normal to just write in the lease that the tenant be responsible for all <$500 worth of home repair expenses? In California.

$1000?

Kris L. · Answer

@Anil J.

Sounds like a great way to let little issues grow into big issues.

Chad Hale · Answer

I never (Ok very rarely) let tenants do repairs other than change light bulbs for example.  Too much at risk in my investment.

David de Luna · Answer

Sounds good to me but I immediately began imagining them doing their own fixes or having their brother-in-law who knows a thing or two make a bigger mess. Something to be said for letting pros handle it. Yet, I am following this thread to see where it goes as I too would love to get out from under the pesky repairs.

Gustavo Orozco · Answer

Ive had this come up several times actually. For whatever reason our pipes would get clogged, probably the tenants flushing things down they toilet that they shouldn't. I do write it into the lease that they are responsible for repairs under $150 and I'm responsible for everything else. I remember the tenant decided that him and his buddy's from church could unclog the drain and they went to go rent out a snake machine thing. My tenants buddies charged him $500 to do the work. When he first told me about the issue i said "its fine just call a plumbing company, ill give them my card number over the phone when there done its no big deal" He decided to do it with his buddies anyway. The problem still existed after they "unclogged it". I ended up calling the plumbing company myself. $150 the pipes were unclogged. The plumber said he had never seen anything like it before HAH!. My tenant tried to charge me for the money he paid his friend to do the work. I said no. Anyway i just wanted to tell that story. Yes write it into your lease always.

David Avery · Answer

Its so sad that most tenants bug an owner to change a light bulb, put a closet door back on it's slider, or don't want to go the breaker box and push back the breaker that tripped!

If you rent to "skinny jeans"  then you will need to do everything!

If you rent to a blue caller type people they will not bug you as much.

I would have a handyman do 2-5 things at once.  I would have him not go out over little things unless it

ends up being several items.  Pay your handyman fast, like that day!  Always be fair to him so when the toilet floods

out he will drop what he is doing to take care of you because........ You pay fast and good!!!

My advice!

Ken Krueger · Answer

in my experience it really depends a lot on the tenant. Some are definitely more handy and trustworthy than others. For the most part I like to take care of everything myself. That way I know the quality of the work and it gives me a chance to see what else might need to be repaired/replaced in the future.

Dave G. · Answer

@Anil J. I agree with the postings that don't want tenants messing with repairs. I send people in to repair my properties. Also, it may seem trivial, but having maintenance personnel enter the property to perform a repair also allows for a cursory viewing/inspection of what's going on inside the property. Other issues such as neglect, unauthorized pets or pet damage/odors, etc. It can be very revealing and provide an opportunity to address other problems earlier than otherwise would likely occur.

Good luck to you,

Dave

Bjorn Ahlblad · Answer

Most of my tenants are incapable of fixing stuff and I would trust only a couple of actually accomplishing something, so I want them to call me and I will get it taken care of. It is after all my investment and I would not want them to put stuff off any repairs.

Suzette T. · Answer

It is in our lease. We deal with the big issues. Some of our tenants are more tending to the property than others.

Tenant responsibility for small repairs?

Most Popular Reply