Sould I charge tenant for clogging sink with a tooth paste cap?

[Jose N.]

I just took over a property and I'm getting maintenance caught up. One issue was a slow draining bathroom sink which I called my warranty service provider to snake at no cost. Because a tooth paste cap lodged in the drain is not a covered maintenance issue, they want to charge me $150 to take care of it. Should I bill the tenant for this? They have been in the home for over 3 years.

[Theresa Harris]

$150 to snake a sink-that is nuts. Did they actually snake it?  If not, go and do it yourself.  Worst case, you can't get it out and have to call a plumber yourself (and I can't see them charging $150). I'd talk to the tenant as ask to split the cost.  I'd wonder how big that cap was and how it got down the sink.