Is PM evading responsibilty or am I being too demanding?

[Nat C.]

I just wanted to ask for some honest opinions.

I have a property manager for a duplex. Recently I received a letter from the water company that that there had been illegal tampering of the water meter at the property (by the tenants) and I had to pay a $500 fine. It gave me the option to appeal by 20 August although I didn't receive the letter until after this date due to mail redirections.

I spoke to my PM and he said he can be of no assistance and it has nothing to do with him.

I said to him 'Aren't you responsible for managing the tenants, including their illegal activity?'. His answer was no, he was not responsible and it's all in my hands.

I have just written to the water department to ask for an appeal hearing even though it's after the deadline. Should the PM be assisting with this issue or is his evading responsibility a fair call?

[Robert Leonard]

@Nat C. my first question is 'was the PM involved in redirecting the notification that you received late?'  Next question is 'how detailed is your PM agreement?'  Does it include any language that would cover this type of issue?

What should you do? Double check your PM agreement and if you find a provision that covers this to your advantage, address it with the PM.  If the property/and or municipality is local or within driving distance, I would personally appear at the office that sent the letter and seek some relief to resolve your tenant/PM problem. That would cover my first priority.

Next, I would call other PMs in the area to see how they handle this type of situation.  It can be a challenge, but you may want to make that one of your questions you ask as you start interviewing to find your next PM.