Advice Please!! Chimney needs repaired and tenants don't have hot water!

[Elizabeth S.]

Short version - if you're water heater doesn't work and you're boiling the water so you have hot water...is there something I can do or buy to make my tenants lives a little easier?

Back Story -

Its the 11th and I've had these tenants in the property since the 1st. When they went to get the gas turned on during the first week of their residency the gas company mentioned that they couldn't turn it on because the stuff from the water heater to the furnace wasn't at the right angle (my terminology sucks, sorry!), so my handy man moves the furnace and gets that all taken care of. Gas company comes out again and now there is something blocking the chimney (dead animal or maybe a broken liner). I have an inspection schedule but Monday was the soonest they can come.

This is all totally my fault and not theirs, I should have turned the gas on earlier before they moved in so we would know. They are suffering silently, which is nice but I still feel terrible. I don't have any other properties that I could let them live in temporarily.

Any advice would be great.

[Joel Owens]

"so my handy man moves the furnace and gets that all taken care of."

There are certain things you want a licensed, properly trained, and insured person to handle. Mechanicals involving gas and other things can be very dangerous.

I wouldn't leave that type of stuff up to a handyman. Too much liability there for the cost you think you are saving.