Charging your tenant a deductible for repairs?

[Jack Collins]

I've heard some great arguments on both sides of the aisle, for and against the practice of charging your tenant a deductible for home repairs. On the positive end of the spectrum, it would seem to be a great deterrent against the "habitual complainer" or for cases where the scope of the repair is easy, clearly within the capability of the tenant, and doesn't warrant an overpriced contractor. On the negative end, you run the risk that your tenant prefers to live with seemingly minor issues (e.g. pipe leaks) rather than call you to have an appropriate repair accomplished, in which case you could end up with extensive (and expensive) longer-term repair costs, such as water damage.

I'm interested in some sage advice from those of you having experience applying a tenant deductible...good or bad. For that matter, is it even legal?

Thanks in advance!

[Steven Stokes]

Yeah, screen your tenants well and you will more than likely not have those kinds of problems.

The deductible is a bad idea because its customary that because they are renting the house they are not responsible for normal wear and tear (which is subjective in some cases) but its one of the few benefits of renting over owning a home.

If you start charging them deductibles then they might as well buy a house.

Just my opinion.