Renter demand laundry and dinner payment because appliances broke

[Roy Mitle]

I have property in san jose.

The washer stopped working. We sent a repairman within a few days. Repair guy diagnosed said have to replace washer. The next day renter mentioned fridge stopped worked. Had to send repairman who took another few days to go there again (they are busy). I order both appliances. Store will deliver and install and it will take them a week to go there (they are backed up etc etc). So in total ~ 2-3 weeks w/o washer and ~1-2 w/o with fridge

Renter claims this is causing hardship and demand that they only pay a portion of the rent. They claim rent includes washer and fridge working properly. Claim they had to eat out and also they had to use laundromat.

As a landlord in California, San jose am I liable for this? If so, how can I minimize the rebate I give them - if the rent is say $5000, do I say fridge is $100 and dryer is $150 so ok you can deduct say $(250) * 2weeks/1month = $125. or do I say ok send me your bill for food and laundromat and you can deduct that full amount (that will be expensive I guess).

If I'm not liable how do I reply that doesn't have ramifications.

[Bruce Woodruff]

You as the property owner are (of course) responsible for replacing the appliances. The problem here IMO is that this is taking so long. 2-3 weeks? I'd be a little perturbed too. 

If I were you, I'd either find another company, or get a trailer and a helper and go pick them up yourself at Lowes or Home Depot. Same day....done. Problem solved.

It isn't like a fridge or washer take a complicated hook-up....just plug 'em in.