Tenants wants to deduct rent in California

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Tenants wants to deduct rent in California

Jacky Johnson
Member since 2020 · 83 posts · 9 votes

Today my tenant sent me a notice via text that my rental property has a sewage leak under the bedrooms and asked me to check it out. He also mentioned rats are living under the house biting away wood and pipes and he called a pest control company to trap, poison, and got rid of the rats and cost him $465 and he paid. He wants to deduct this amount from next month's rent and asked me to send him my email for the invoice. How should I handle this? Thanks!

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Investor · Scottsdale Austin Tuktoyaktuk · Member since 2021 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
5y
Originally posted by @Jacky Johnson:

Today my tenant sent me a notice via text that my rental property has a sewage leak under the bedrooms and asked me to check it out. He also mentioned rats are living under the house biting away wood and pipes and he called a pest control company to trap, poison, and got rid of the rats and cost him $465 and he paid. He wants to deduct this amount from next month's rent and asked me to send him my email for the invoice. How should I handle this? Thanks!

Was it pre approved based on the rental agreement or did you give him written permission? His responsibility is to let you know there is a problem so you can resolve it based on your best interests.

I would definitely have the sewage leak inspected but since he took the rats on himself, that's on him.

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  • Account Closed
    Investor · Scottsdale Austin Tuktoyaktuk · Member since 2021 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Jacky Johnson:

    Today my tenant sent me a notice via text that my rental property has a sewage leak under the bedrooms and asked me to check it out. He also mentioned rats are living under the house biting away wood and pipes and he called a pest control company to trap, poison, and got rid of the rats and cost him $465 and he paid. He wants to deduct this amount from next month's rent and asked me to send him my email for the invoice. How should I handle this? Thanks!

    Was it pre approved based on the rental agreement or did you give him written permission? His responsibility is to let you know there is a problem so you can resolve it based on your best interests.

    I would definitely have the sewage leak inspected but since he took the rats on himself, that's on him.

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  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    5y

    My lease says I will take care of pest issues the first 30 days after move in, after that it is their responsibility. 

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  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    5y

    check out the sewage leak, but ask him why he didn't contact you about the rats.  Hopefully your lease says they need pre-approval or that pest control is their problem.

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  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    5y

    All maintenance should be reported to you unless the tenant plans to pay for it out-of-pocket. If this is a newer tenant, I will typically throw them a bone and offer to pay or at least split it, but that comes with a hard warning - in writing - that maintenance requests must be submitted to me and I confirm the problem and then hire the vendor.

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