How to handle small damages from tenant

Question

Hi everyone :)

The situation:

Good tenant. Underpaying due to rent control.

I noticed a dent in the aluminium downspout, restricting rain flow.

Tenant said he tried to bend it back, but was unsuccessful.

I didn't push for "who caused it", but I think we both know.

To hire a contractor to fix it would cost about $250.

Should I simply have it fixed, or send him the bill? One side of me says tenants are responsible for damages. The other side says it is not a big expense, the tenant has been good, and I don't want him to hide problems in the future.

Any advice for this, or similar issues?

Thanks!

Paul

Nathan Gesner · Answer

You're too wishy-washy on this topic. You need to set a firm policy and stick to it.

It's probably too late for this situation. You didn't give a firm answer right away, so now it sounds unprofessional to go back and charge the tenant.

Personally, I would pay to have it repaired, then I would make it very clear to the Tenant that they will take full responsibility for future damages they cause.

Caroline Gerardo · Answer

Great answer @Kevin Sobilo Pieces are $3.00 - $20 total materials.

Gavin Malcolm · Answer

I agree with the gentleman above, I can't imagine the dent is causing enough damage to require serious repair. Even if it is fairly dented, the solution proposed above would work. It is also a great idea to set a very firm clear standard moving forward just so you do not end up in this same spot with a larger bit of damage.

Kevin Sobilo · Answer

@Paul S., how mangled is this downspout that it is restricting flow? Downspouts rarely use more than a small fraction of their capacity so it sounds like its completely crushed.

If it is just dented, maybe try putting a screw into the indentation and then pulling on the screw head to pull the dent out then just sealing the screw hole. I imagine in many cases that might do the trick for almost no cost or effort.

If you do need to repair or replace a section, to me that is an ideal job for a handyman and I would expect to pay less than half the price you quote for materials and labor with a handyman because it would only be replacing 1 section of downspout.

When it comes to damage, I would need to be fairly sure how the damage happened to assign the cost to the tenant. If it was a downspout on a garage and the dent was at bumper height where it was clear a car had bumped it that would be enough, but if it was a downspout on an alleyway where teens are known to meander and hang out, then it would be very plausible that it wasn't caused by the tenant and in that case I eat the cost.

Melanie Thomas · Answer

In my opinion, the expense associated with repairs isn't more burdensome than the potential for a tenant's disagreement, which could lead to additional legal costs. My experiences over the years have taught me the importance of choosing my fights wisely. While I have set rules and guidelines in place, there are instances where I consider deviating from them, contingent on the level of risk involved. Its a very fine line we must walk. Good luck & happy investing!

Gregory Nelis · Answer

Based solely on your information, I would probably fix the downspout. I dont know the extent of the damage, but if this is a typically good tenant it isnt worth the extra problems.

How to handle small damages from tenant

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