Greater Anchorage Area, AK · Member since 2016 · 3 posts · 0 votes
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.
Investor · Century, FL · Member since 2015 · 950 posts · 603 votes
10y
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.
Manassas, VA · Member since 2016 · 74 posts · 15 votes
10y
If I were about to make a mistake which could get me into legal trouble, and my tenant knew, I would be grateful for the tenant's heads up. But that's just me.
Investor · Singapore · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 3k+ votes
10y
Is your friend also going to look at his tax returns , business licenses, property insurance and otherwise run his business for him? If not why does she think this is any of her business at all?
Investor · Coeur d'Alene, ID · Member since 2016 · 551 posts · 218 votes
10y
I don't understand why this is even being brought up? Did the "handyman" do something wrong? Is there a back story to this? Either way, why does she care, she is getting her stuff fixed. Does she think she's being a good citizen by narking them out?
I understand that hiring unlicensed workers take work away from licensed workers, but most, well at least the good ones are so backlogged right now you'd be waiting 2-4 weeks for them to come out and fix whats broke.
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.
What does it matter? Why would you want to cause trouble for the landlord? Are you that evil and have nothing better to do?
As a landlord, if someone pulled that stunt, I'd have you out. California may have a 6 month rule to stop retaliatory action from a landlord, and I would wait 6 months and 1 day. You can be sure it'll be in my diary.
If you pull that stunt, what else are you going to do to me?
Greater Anchorage Area, AK · Member since 2016 · 3 posts · 0 votes
10y
As suspected, misunderstanding arose. Her intention was to be kind in advising the landlord and handyman of the law, since they probably don't know it (sure, possible they do and don't care, but they're not from these parts so good chance they don't). My friend was seeking feedback because she is afraid it might be mistaken as a threat or offend the landlord if she shares this knowledge with her and the handyman, while intended for their own protection.....and by the responders above calling her "evil" accusing her of "narking" and "causing trouble for the landlord" and "pulling a stunt like this"....holy smokes, man.....I can see why she'd fear such a misunderstanding. She wasn't going to "nark" on anyone, she wanted to know if she should tell the landlord of the law for their own protection.....not turn them into the authorities. A painter recently painted her friend's house, a guy recommended by a realtor, and he wasn't licensed, and the guy asked them to please not submit their receipts for taxes because he could get in trouble. I don't know the laws there, she says she does, she's an aspiring real estate investor. She doesn't want to see this handyman get in trouble, he has a little girl, and the fine sounds steep including jail time??. Wow.......ok, I'll advise her to keep her mouth shut. I'll also tell her I don't think this site is as professional as she thinks it is, but at least we got her answer from those responders above who think she's an evil nark for even asking this question. Huh.
Investor · Century, FL · Member since 2015 · 950 posts · 603 votes
10y
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.
Investor · Coeur d'Alene, ID · Member since 2016 · 551 posts · 218 votes
10y
@Mike J. when a contractor doesn't want receipts reported it's more often then not because he's not reporting the income for taxes. These are the one's that give us other contractors a bad name.
Greater Anchorage Area, AK · Member since 2016 · 3 posts · 0 votes
10y
Ha, ok.....
Handyman replaced both of her toilets, and didn't bother to bag the bottom of them before carrying out of the house. She just had her carpets professionally steam-cleaned by a green company for the baby. Luckily, she saw him about to carry the toilet out of the bathroom, and jumped to bring a garbage bag to bag the bottom of it.......
He replaced a "fan" unit in the bathroom (with tub/shower) that was not sucking any air, causing mold in the bathroom ceiling, and and the unit itself was completely full of mold. The tenant had taped over the unit to prevent mold exposure to herself and baby, and expressed her concern to the handyman to please use extreme caution when removing the unit, she even gave him garbage bags to bag it, because didn't want mold in the air. She has asthma, and she has a little baby in the house. The handyman said it wasn't an issue, he'd vacuum out mold, he then carried the moldy thing through her house (still full of mold), down the stairs, not covered in a bag. The put it right outside her front door, with door open, moldy unit, wind blowing inside the house. Her husband went outside and bagged it up.....
Handyman went into her attic to install the tubing for the new fan to the roof, because previous said "unit" was not routed outside. He scraped up the walls with his ladder, got dust all over her baby's crib, and left a mess in the room.
After installing the new bathroom fan, handyman decided to paint over the moldy ceiling. Yes, over the mold. Regular, standard high-gloss white paint. My friend said she'd like to wash the mold off the ceiling first, and he told her it wasn't necessary, and he painted over it anyway.
Handyman put ladder in her bathtub to paint the ceiling above the tub, and didn't lay protection down first (tarp, towel) so the tub basin is scratched now.
A/C unit in the bedroom was not installed properly years ago, and there were gaps you can see straight outside. Look in there, two wasp nests and active wasps. Nice. Handyman filled with an insulation strip and drilled one ugly piece of wood to cover the largest gap on the top, and called it good. She said no, it wasn't OK with her, please fill all gaps, bugs can still get inside. So he used tape, taped around the rest of the edges. It's ugly as F***. He also didn't even tape it properly (still gaps), didn't press it down all the way (my friend did), and left pieces of insulation all over the floor.
Handyman checked pipes under the kitchen sink to troubleshoot why dishwasher drainage floods the kitchen. When he removed the pipe underneath, he didn't put something to catch water, and made a big water mess she had to clean up with a towel. My friend doesn't want ants and roaches, and it very cautious to clean up water messes in her house.
Handyman installed a new bathroom sink, and used putty around the rim of the sink....he didn't even fill all the gaps, it also looks terrible.
Unlicensed handyman, anyone? The landlord vouches for him and insists he is perfectly capable......