Do I pay for my tenants hotel room?

Question

Melissa Robles · Answer

I feel that A/C in the summer falls under the landlord's responsibility to provide essential services. In good faith for a good tenant I would pay for it.

Ray Harrell · Answer

@Melissa Robles, sorry, but air conditioning is not a necessity in any municipality that I know of, It's not like heat or water. MOST older apartments/homes in Chicago do not have air conditioning, and tenants are able to purchase window units if they wish. The only thing here is usually central air is included in the lease, so the owner does have to repair it because tenants are paying for it. However, it is NOT a habitability issue, so the landlord does NOT have to pay for a hotel. It is a comfort issue.

Tom S. · Answer

@Ralph Miller  I address it directly my lease, stating I highly recommend them have renters insurance, because my policy does not cover their belongings, or alternate housing.

Dennis M. · Answer

That’s Up to you unless your lease says otherwise . In my opinion If it was a week then I could see some reimbursements but a day or so  ? Look,up to about  40-50 years ago most people used box fans when it was hot out . These folks are clearly high maintenance types . The kind  of renter who won’t pay 3$ for a new smoke detector battery or a swap out a light bulb .my  black lab will leave our cool air conditioned house to go lay in the hot sun out on the deck ! This is absurdity . They took it upon themselves to leave and stay at a hotel . That was completely their decision not yours so why should you pay for a voluntary action like that . Do not pay the hotel bill for these idiots or you’ll train them to take advantage of you in the future .down the road  If they see a mouse or bug on the wall they will  leave and do the same thing and be swimming at Hilton on your tab

Ray Harrell · Answer

A/C is not a requirement on a rental. You took steps to repair the unit and that should be sufficient. That they chose to get a hotel is on them. Air is not a safety issue, it is a comfort issue.

Dick Rosen · Answer

I can't believe that Missouri would be more strict than AZ in the summer when temps can reach 110+. We are not required to put anyone in a hotel for any reason, if they chose other accommodations while an AC repair is being made that is their choice and we will sometime (almost always) offer a pro-rated rent credit for the days that the AC was not working.

They have the choice of staying with family or friends or a hotel of their choice but I'm only compensating the value of their rent.

I had one young couple with a 5 year old move in and the AC died the first day while they were moving in. We did offer them a hotel because they were in a U-Haul moving in from out of state but they chose to go buy a couple of fans and tough it out for 4 days while we had the AC unit replaced. I still gave them a pro-rated rent credit.

Thomas S. · Answer

Too hot for their dog ??????

Forget I suggested a rent rebate.

Greg Kurzner · Answer

Every state is different.  In Georgia, there is not specific time frame detailing how quickly a repair needs to be completed...if the repair was considered an emergency, the following day isn't unreasonable at all...even a few days if over a weekend or a part needed to be ordered...unless the lease specifically called for owner reimbursement for that situation, I would not reimburse the tenant because they chose to go to a hotel.  I would check your state statutes or landlord tenant law but likely less than 24 hours to repair something isn't a reasonable expectation for a tenant to seek reimbursement for costs associated with HVAC failure.

Thomas S. · Answer

The decision is yours. You must evaluate whether the AC not working justifies taking a hotel room or not. I can not see that it would. Unless it was a extreme heat wave I would question the rational of their decision. They sound like high maintenance tenants. ..what was the temperature.

Base your decision on whether you would have gone to a hotel if the AC in your own home quit working. If so then you may choose to pay for their hotel or you could give a rent rebate pro rated for the day.

Do I pay for my tenants hotel room?

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