Maintenance charge advice

Kansas City, Missouri
Managing Your Property
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Maintenance charge advice

Raquel MacedoPro Member
Homeowner · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2023 · 11 posts · 1 vote

To Property managers out there,

One of our tenants cut the wire while mowing the lawn and had no AC because of that. In that case, the maintenance cost to replace the wire should be the tenant's responsibility, correct?  
I appreciate any advice greatly. 

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Cathy B.
Architect · Portland, OR · Member since 2023 · 66 posts · 39 votes
2y

Raquel,
The answer to your question may not be cut and dry.

You may want to investigate whether or not the wiring was, as it was installed, code compliant.  Outdoor wiring is usually pretty beefy and not intended to be strung across a lawn (you would bury it under those conditions)

Was the wiring in a location that made it venerable to yard equipment? or was the tenant careless and let the grass grow into areas that had previously been mulched and therefor eliminating a natural buffer between the AC unit wires and the grass?

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  • Cathy B.
    Architect · Portland, OR · Member since 2023 · 66 posts · 39 votes
    2y

    Raquel,
    The answer to your question may not be cut and dry.

    You may want to investigate whether or not the wiring was, as it was installed, code compliant.  Outdoor wiring is usually pretty beefy and not intended to be strung across a lawn (you would bury it under those conditions)

    Was the wiring in a location that made it venerable to yard equipment? or was the tenant careless and let the grass grow into areas that had previously been mulched and therefor eliminating a natural buffer between the AC unit wires and the grass?

    3Reply
  • JD MartinBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
    2y

    You need to harden your units such that no one is cutting anywhere near AC lines. Now if it's already hardened and your tenants are just too dumb to be using a lawnmower or weed eater, then yes you would be justified in charging them for the repair. Generally it's pretty difficult to cut these lines because they are in mid-air.

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  • Raquel MacedoPro Member
    OP
    Homeowner · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2023 · 11 posts · 1 vote
    2y

    Thank you for the advice. I appreciated it. I'm sending a few pics so you can have an idea, but it looks like they let the grass grow into the area around the AC unit. It was fixed and the company repair sent us pictures showing. 

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  • Richard F.
    Honolulu, HI · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    2y
    Aloha,

    Given that it is a Rental, the wiring job is sloppy, as such, your cost to repair. Personally, I would not want to see those lines on the ground at all. They are clearly exposed to the elements, passing dogs, and, weedwackers. It should all be in BX, even though it appears to be low voltage. I would suggest pouring a small concrete pad, or installing crushed rock in the area between the AC and the structure, to prevent the need for weedwacking the area.
    1Reply
  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    2y

    Based on the photos, the tenants would have known the wires were there and in a bundle. They should have taken more care when cutting the grass.

    1Reply
  • Raquel MacedoPro Member
    OP
    Homeowner · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2023 · 11 posts · 1 vote
    2y

    Thank you all for the replies. We are working on that. Definitely learning a lot here! 

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