Termite Tenting; do I have to pay for tenants hotel stay?

[Kristen Watts]

Hi all; I've been lurking for awhile and need to work on my profile for posting, but I need a fairly quick response to my question. I have a rental in Florida that needs tenting for termites. It is tenant occupied. I know I'll have to refund the two days rent to her for the time the building is tented, but do I have to pay for anything beyond that, such as her hotel? Thanks for any guidance!

[Sam Leon]

I did that once. I spoke with them and agreed to pay them a dollar amount each day. I did not deduct rent money for the 3 days they were out, and I didn't care how they used the money I gave them, they could pocket it and stay with a friend or use it to pay for a hotel.

I paid them $75 a day.

Now, there are other cost they incurred. For example, any food and medicine have to be vacated for the tenting. Yes I know you can keep food in the refrigerator and theoretically they are supposed to be safe, but I don't know of one person who dared to leave food in the fridge and come back to eat them. In my case the tenant elected to not worry about it, but I could see if it's a large family and they have to throw away food that could be one thing they may want reimbursed.

It's easier for a SFR, for a MF it's impossible to align schedule convenient for everyone. For condos with shared roof and walls getting all owners to agree to tent is a real nightmare.