Movers damaged property when tenant moved in. Contractor messed up repair. Now what?

[Malachi P.]

As the title says, the moving company damaged some flooring when my tenant moved in. I hired the contractor for the repair because that seemed to be the best way to ensure things are repaired to my standards, and using the same material.

Turns out, the flooring manufacturing company discontinued the parts that were damaged, and replaced it with a similar, but different fitting part. Because of this, the contractor installed the new part incorrectly and it now needs to be redone (increased repair cost because additional material/labor hours are needed).

No one has paid anyone yet. Logically, the moving company pays the tenant, the tenant pays me, and I pay the contractor. But now that the contractor has also messed up, what happens?.. Should the increased cost go to the moving company as this is their fault to begin with? Estimate initially given to the movers was about $550, it will now be about $850.

[Greg M.]

Tenant is liable to you. Doesn't matter what movers are willing to pay. That is between tenant and movers.

If contractor installed the wrong part and messed up, they need to fix it at no additional cost.