Advice Needed, Tenants Telling Landlords of Laws

[Mike J.]

Hi all.... 

My friend told me about Bigger Pockets, she has a question she wanted asked but learned her landlord can see it if she posts here on BP.... so I'm asking for her.  Her landlord hired an unlicensed handyman friend to do a bunch of work in the apartment.  From what it sounds like to me, it's gonna be more than $500.... probably $2,000.  My pal says she's learned that in her state, California, the Dept. of Consumer Affairs Contractors State License Board has a rule that unlicensed workers cannot do more than $500 in work, and that includes cost for parts. She previously asked some landlords and got mixed answers, from "what's it to you, you're the tenant, it's not your place to dictate to the landlord" to "that guy can get in trouble...the law..."   So now she wants to know what to do.  She's guessing both the landlord and the handyman doesn't know the state law on this, as the landlord only owns one rental she inherited from her mom, and the handyman isn't from around here.  Should she keep her mouth shut and let them learn the hard way since it's not her place to advise her landlord?  Or should she kindly tell them so the poor guy doesn't get in trouble down the road when she submits her receipts, at the expense of offending her landlord?   Even among my friends it's mixed, most say keep mouth shut.  Thanks for the feedback.

[James DeRoest]

Here's the problem.

In 99% of these cases it's because the tenant is trying to be a bar steward. Vast majority of our problems as a landlord isn't the house, it's the tenant. The house is easy, we send someone to fix it, they fix it. When the tenant starts estimating the bill and telling the landlord about the law - this is what we call a Red Flag.

When we get a Red Flag, we don't think nice thoughts at that moment. You see, we're a suspicious bunch, because usually this stuff starts costing us money. And when the state gets involved for no reason, it's gonna cost time and money. So when someone says "are you in compliance with the law?" we don't suddenly think they are an interested party, any more than we think a shark is about to give lessons on swimming.