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Updated over 9 years ago on . Most recent reply
Should I fix the ceiling fan?
So my tenant moved in three weeks ago. Per the lease, she has 7 days to tell me what wrong with the house after move in day. A week gone by and I asked if she had found anything. She said no just minor scratches. I reminded her to give me the list which she said she made. A few days later I emailed her an inventory list to check off. She said she doesnt have a printer so I even printed it out for her. I came over and told her I would walk thru the house with her if she likes. Nope. She signed off the inventory list confirming that everything is satisfactory. Now three weeks later, she texted me regarding her squeaky fan above her bed. I told her to check the screws but she wanted me to come over and check it out. Also, according to my lease,any repair under $50 is really up to her to fix. Am I right for refusing to fix the fan? I could really fix it for her but it is a matter of principle. The fan only costs $30-40 to be replaced. Last time I checked, it was fine too. She also called me twice regarding the broken dishwasher. Really all she has to do was turn the valve on. I have been really nice to her in handling her service calls. However I don't think it is wise for me to make it comfortable for her to text me all the time for tiny repairs. I had since insisted that she should email mr for any future request.
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@Phung N.as an aside, your $50 repair requirement is actually an illegal/unenforceable contractual clause in the state of NC and has no weight whatsoever. Here is the link to the NC department of justice LL tenant handbook. You'll take notice in part 4 "Carolina General Statute 42-42(b) states that a landlord cannot excuse himself from these duties through a special clause inserted into the lease."
Parts 2/3 deal with who is responsible for what, and "repairs" are on you. I know many people have said they use the $50 "tool, but it is unenforceable in residential situations.