New to Real Estate · Morgantown WV · Member since 2021 · 35 posts · 13 votes
Good morning,
I am reaching to get input from other on what they have done in a situation where the refrigerator has went out and food had to be thrown away. The fridge went out last night and thawed and isn't cold, I went first thing this morning to look at it and have a technician coming at noon to hopefully repair it. However, my tenants want reimbursement for all the food in the fridge and freezer. I offered up coolers to keep it cold, but they insist all the food is no longer good. Should I just reduce their rent by $100-$200 next month or fight back on giving them a discount since this is an issue I couldn't prevent and am getting it fixed immediately. Let me know your thoughts.
Check the lease first. Most leases do not make you pay for spoiled food, and your renter's insurance question is separate, since some tenant policies cover it.
If you want to keep the relationship good, a small goodwill credit is fair, but put it in writing as a one-time gesture and not an admission. Also fix the fridge fast and keep the technician's invoice and date for your records.
Speed is the compensation most tenants actually remember. You were there this morning and a tech is coming at noon — that response is worth more than the argument over a fridge of groceries. Run the math the other way: a turnover costs you a 21-day turn plus a lease-up gap, thousands in lost rent, against a couple hundred dollars of food. I would not fight that fight. If the repair drags past today, drop in a loaner or swap in the standard appliance package instead of letting it stretch. Then make the call once, put it in a text so it is in writing, and move on. Tenants renew for landlords who show up fast.
Jacob, this is a relationship decision more than a legal one. A fridge dying overnight is squarely a landlord's responsibility — appliance failure isn't tenant-caused — so some goodwill goes a long way. I'd replace or repair the fridge immediately (same day if possible), and a modest rent credit ($100-150) is reasonable and cheap compared to a tenant who feels nickel-and-dimed and doesn't renew. Document everything: the failure, your response time, the credit. What I'd push back on: don't set a precedent that every spoiled-grocery claim gets paid without question — renter's insurance exists for exactly this, and it's worth requiring it in your lease going forward. How fast were you able to get the replacement in?