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Updated over 2 years ago,
Am I responsible when contractors I hired broke tenants' stuff?
Hi all,
Recently I hired an independent contractor (great reviews on Yelp) to fix a few appliances in the kitchen. Things were fixed perfectly, however, the contractor brought some minor damages, for example, scratching a large piece of the wall so heavy marks were left, breaking an espresso machine somehow by putting heavy tools on top of it, and tainting a few tablecloths and other personal items...
The wall was repainted instantly. Now the tenant is asking me to pay for a new espresso machine and some cleaning service.
My understanding of the law is that I'm only responsible for the appliances and the wall. It's unfortunate that their personal belongings were affected but it is this contractor whom the tenant should go after. Or they should let their renter insurance kick in. I can help with channeling the conversation. But I'm not the one to pay for these expenses out of pocket. I'm also happy to settle because I want them to feel happy but I also want to let them know that I'm doing it out of courtesy and a good intention, not because I'm obligated to.
Am I right?
Much appreciated!