Service Contract for Oil Business

[Amy Zemser]

Hi Fellow Landlords!  

I had a quick question about a student rental and boiler maintenance.  

I've been paying the oil company about $380/year for a service contract that involves the company sending a technician out whenever there is a problem. It's a fairly old boiler, so I can expect a few calls every year. If I use the company to deal with problems (at their repair prices) it may be worth the money.  

It's a big payout, though, and once my plumber fixed a problem that the oil guys couldn't figure out.  So I ended up paying twice.  

Is it better to use a service contract or have your hired guy/plumbing guy check things out? If it's the weekend in the middle of a freezing winter, my plumber might not be available.  My next question becomes then: if this happens a few times, say no heat on a Sunday but my dealing with it ASAP, do my tenants have a right to freak out?  I have some tough ones this year...

The real benefit with a 24 hour service contract is just that -- the 24 hour service.  It does happen for sure once or twice a year. Is it illegal to make my tenants wait 24 hours for heat in the cold of winter? (They are students and can always bunk up with friends very easily) 

Thank you all so much, 

Amy