All Forum Posts by: Thomas B.

So basically the City Government can't run a business correctly so the are going to push for more legislation to cover for their ineptness. The gas, electric, and phone seem to be able to deal with it and turn of the related service off in short order. Our elected officials are to lazy to take care of this the right way. Rant complete.

I would be more comfortable with water being in the owners name as mentioned by @Martin Scherer at least that way I know what is going on and can stop the issue through eviction. 

In any case we are better off if the people using the commodity are held responsible instead of the "deep pockets" taking the hit.

I will bite! Would you mind sending over some of the secret sauce?

Thanks in advance!

This sounds like an issue where renters insurance might help in the future. 

As I see it this is not really all that different from telling the tenant to let the water drip and open the cabinet doors so the pipes don't freeze and the tenant not doing it. I that case the tenant would be liable. (Good luck proving it!) That being said, if the tenant did close the door it is possible the wind or person that opened it last time came back and opened it again.

I send all of my tenants a text when we have cold weather issues to remind them to turn on the faucets and keep the cabinet doors open. 

@Account Closed You are correct things happen, but if a tenant chooses to not follow instructions and take reasonable care of the property fault can be placed on them. Its not all that different from falling asleep on the couch and starting a grease fire.

I just noticed your in CA. Is the property also in CA? If so my answer would be different.

I understood your post and was adding my 2 cents for the others here questioning the need / saying it just covered the tenant. 

To directly answer your question I would give them three options.

1. Buy insurance with you as additional named insured. 

2. Add it to the cost to the rent and sign a new lease for the balance of the original.  

3. Eviction.

See this other recent posting regarding renters insurance it really opened my eyes.

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/52/topics/1699...

Dawn Brenengen pointed out the following. Renters insurance also covers damage to the property due to the tenant's actions. I just had one tenant's policy pay out when they had a cooking accident. They paid for a new glass top for the stove, repair to the counter tops and replacement of ALL of the hardwoods on the first floor. Total was about $12,000. So, yes, it's a great idea to require for situations like this one, not just for the tenants' personal belongings.

@Dawn Brenengen @Fred Heller Thanks once again this forum has been a good learning tool. I am going to look into this for my rental that will be coming up in the next two months. Thanks! 

Please correct me if I am wrong but renters insurance covers the renter and his or her property, not the property itself or the renters willful damage or neglect.

Hello Stacey,

I would polity tell you to pound sand if you called me and I think most that don't have a property manager would. For many reasons but the main one is your asking me to pay you (XX% of gross rent (one year)) for someone's contact information. So no it is not the correct approach.

Most land lords are capable of getting people to call them that are looking for a place to live.

In Memphis one street can be good and the next a war zone and this is very true in the 38141 zip code.  I also own a few in the 38141 area and they are good for me, but this is not an area I would invest in without boots on the ground.