How to handle an "emergency" service call?

[Lisa Mason]

Greetings, and thanks in advance for any advice.

So, I had a tenant with an emergency- she got home from work and her furnace fan was not blowing. We live in MN and it's winter so heat is a necessity.

It's is a tenant responsibility to flip breakers and check for power outages before contacting maintenance, and the tenant says they tried flipping the breaker. The handyman came out to service the furnace and found it in working order when he arrived. Tenant said they flipped the breaker again right before the handyman arrived and it started working. Handyman did a full diagnostic and found no issues. Concluded a power surge caused the breaker to flip.

Who is responsible for this service call, tenant or landlord?

[James DeRoest]

I really would hold off placing responsibility for the call out right now. Experience says that these things don't trip for no reason.