Security deposit question

[Ian Handel]

My tenant changed out the thermostat in the unit (a lease violation) which caused the heat in the unit to not function. He complained to me, assuring me it was not the new thermostat, I called a plumber who charged me $148 to deduce the problem and fix it.

The tenant adamantly refuses to pay for the plumber. Making this into a fight is not in my best interest. He has 9 months left on his lease and has been late paying a few times. I don't want a fight every month over the rent ($1100) just for $148. I also want to preserve what little relationship there is in the interest of having a paying tenant.

Can I collect this $148 from his security deposit when he moves out? I would like to not talk to him any more about this issue. But I would like to collect the $148 from the security deposit.

Thanks,

Ian