Appliance broke down tenant purchased replacement

[Sam Leon]

Usually when an appliance breaks down and needs to be replaced I would arrange all that and no issue.

However I went on a month long vacation outside of the country, and a refrigerator broke down.  I have a helper on stand by, but appliance electronics is not part of his skill set.  So I authorized the tenant to call in an appliance repair co, they collected a $100 one time charge, and said the mother board controller needs replacing and it would be like $500 and there would be a one week wait.  Since I am outside of the country, and the repair fee on this 10 year old fridge is close to getting a new one, I decided to order a new one from the big box store.

Well well well, when you are out of the country these online merchants think I am a hacker trying to break in, I had trouble getting gmail to work, and just running into walls trying to place an online appliance order.  I finally asked the tenant to order it himself and scheduled to have it delivered and installed, and when I get back I would pay him back.

OK so now I am back and I am wondering how best to do this.  The easiest thing is to just deduct from the rent, or write him a check for what I owe him.  However the purchase is in his name, and I think technically the warranty is also in his name...and I don't want some misunderstanding thinking it's his fridge because he paid for it.  So I think I need to execute a simple purchase agreement to buy his fridge right?  or am I overthinking this?