Tenant / landlord dispute

[Anthony Ziccardi]

The purposes of this post are to learn strategies and plan further actions.

Tenant did not clear the snow from there walk way

I informed that that I would now snowblow while snow blowing the charger to the ev car got cut. it was buried under the snow and ran across the walk way

The tenant now states her car needs 5000$ worth of repairs. And I should pay.

I did delince as she failed to clear the snow and left the wire buried under the snow I gave verbal notice I would be clearing the snow 1/2 hour prior

[Wesley W.]

If this is a SFR, I would put in your lease that tenant is responsible, and if snow is not cleared x hours after y inches of snow, landlord will clear at a charge to tenant of $z, due in 5 days as Additional Rent.

If this is a multi-family property, I would NEVER delegate this responsibility to one tenant that could put my other households in harm's way.  In NYS you cannot legally delegate snow removal to a resident in a MF situation, so even if a tenant does it, the owner is still liable.

Regarding the cut cord, I really have no idea who would be responsible if your lease is silent on this.  I can't imagine that the cord is $5K, though.  If you think it's their fault for leaving it out, have the tenant sue you in small claims court if they disagree, but don't ever agree to a rent credit or abatement.  One thing does not have to do with the other.