Replacing a microwave….

[Daria B.]

If a tenant has 2 months remaining on a lease, who has not paid rent since 9/2021 and has no plans on paying  (and is working) but has had state funds from COVID who finally paid the late rent, complain about a non working microwave, what would you do?

Tenant also owes for jamming up the plumbing and hasn’t paid that bill either.

Yes, the microwave was part of the rental ad and I feel compelled to get it replaced but it’s not an essential part of the house and I wanted to wait for this tenant to be gone.

The PM had the handyman over twice to no avail no solution other than dropping $$ to have another one installed. The unit was broken by a former tenant and the handyman tried some glue that didn’t work on the frame.

Would you just drop more money now and get it replaced? 

I should add this is not a countertop microwave it’s one that requires wiring into existing electrical and mounted under a cabinet over the stove. What if I provide an inexpensive countertop - it’s still something?

There’s no telling if this tenant will cause damages. There was no red flag when the application was submitted and credit and all other checks were done. COVID has made what would be good tenants turn bad.

UPDATE: The more I think on this the more I lean towards just replacing it. I was grappling with the feeling of being at the insistent of the tenant who isn’t paying. There’s more to the unpaid rent/state story and past communication on that but it’s not necessary to air here. 

[Eric Janson]

I would also go with the cheap countertop microwave option.  I would be concerned that if I replaced it with a nice new unit, they might damage it.  Interesting how important microwaves are to people.  I remember as a kid not having one and cooking everything in the oven or on the stove.