Bill tenant or let it pass?

Question

Have a new tenant in one of my units in a fourplex. The unit has used appliances I purchased. The tenant moves in and notifies me that the dishwasher is leaking showing me a picture of suds all over the floor. I go over and check it out and ask what type of soap they used and they claim to use dishwasher tablets. I check the dishwasher myself and assume it must have a leak near the door. Part of the issue could be they speak broken English so there could have been a gap in my understanding of what they did before I called the appliance repair guy.

I call a appliance repair company to come out and they state the customer is using too much soap/wrong type of soap and educate them on what not to do. This education costs me $80.

I feel like they are responsible for the issue that lead to the $80 service call, and should pay it. I also like these tenants and it could have been a sincere mistake on their part on not knowing how to use the dishwasher and used too much/wrong type of soap.

The question is should I:

1. Let it pass and just eat the cost and warn them next time if something like this happens they are responsible for the total cost if the issue is due to their mistake?

2. Demand they pay half the cost of the service call? (Split the cost)

3. Demand they pay the full cost of the the service call?

Account Closed · Answer

Teach them how to use the dishwater, tell them in your nice voice that if it happens again you would have to bill them for repairs, and when you get back to the office, follow up with what you said to them in a letter. Always get everything in writing! Always! No matter how little, no matter how big !!

Nancy Neville

William Murrell · Answer

If it's a tenant that is paying consistently and not causing other issues, I'd say eat it this time and explain that you're being nice this time but might not always be. Good tenants can be tough to find and I am a firm believer that you should keep them when you find them.

Nicholas W. · Answer

I would chock it up to a lesson learned. Put something in your rules and regulations that "only dishwasher specific tablets maybe used in dishwasher." Then if you ever run into this again you can point to that and say if you used the tablets as specified you couldn't use the wrong soap or too much.

James Conaway · Answer

Probably, but I am going with the understanding that common knowledge would expect people to know that they shouldn't use the wrong type or too much soap...

James Conaway · Answer

Thanks for all the good advice. I am going with option 1.

Stephen E. · Answer

@James Conaway Ditto for option 1. As a landlord you are going to have issues that are a lot more vexing than a soapy dishwasher. The appliance repairer tutored the tenants on correct usage, you paid $80. I would tell them that they have to follow the directions that they were given and that if they do not they will have to pay for the next repair call. You say you like these tenants. How much would it cost you in time and money to advertise, show the property and screen tenant applicants in order to find new tenants? They may leave if you sour the relationship by playing hardball over $80. If they are OK otherwise I would chalk this up as part of the cost of doing business. If this leads to other calls and issues then they are no longer good tenants and it is time for the happy clause.

Chuy Gonzalez · Answer

Option 1

David Dachtera · Answer

@James Conaway,

You can also have a DW suds up by pouring too much rinse agent in the dispenser. Had that problem due to my own error.

For what it's worth ...

James Conaway · Answer

I tested the dishwashers multiple times prior to them moving in, empty and without soap. Lessons learned for next time....

Dana Dunford · Answer

@James Conaway - Did you mention to the tenants (beforehand) that they would be responsible if x, y, and z? I always try to mitigate the risk up front.

For example, "If the issue is related to the soap you are using, then I will charge you for the service call. Are we still ok to move forward with the vendor, who has an $80 service call rate? He will let us know the issue when he assesses the problem."

This type of up front disclaimer is especially useful with:

• Items stuck down the disposal
• Lightbulbs burnt out
• Forgot to switch the breaker

Hope that helps for future cases. For this case, you may want to go with the recommendation above or just foot the cost until next time.

Bill tenant or let it pass?

Bill tenant or let it pass?

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