Tenant is asking for discount in rent for damages due to water

[Neerav Patel]

Hi all,

In past whenever I had questions, I always turn to BP and it always is helpful, so asking one more question.

I am a new landlord and yesterday at 8.30 pm tenant reported that there is about 2 inch of water in basement. I went there within an hour and take care of water issue. We had new sump pump in property but due to shaking of pump , float switch was leaning on concrete and wasn't working. I fixed that while I was there yesterday night.

I just got text form them saying thank you for work and asking discount in next month rent due to damage to rug and some damage to tv.

In your experience , is it a reasonable request? should I give them some discount in rent or give them gift card of some sort or should not do either?

Thank you for all of your time and help. 

Looking forward to your thoughts

[Bill Crow]

@Neerav Patel As always, lots of great answers with lots of different perspectives. I do have a question that I haven’t seen anyone address. You say it’s a new pump and that due to shaking, the switch was impaired and could not work. Is it a poor installation problem? If so, I would be talking to the installer about the damage they caused. If you’re the installer, then you own that share of the responsibility. I, like many others, would tell the renter to claim it on their insurance. However, I would also figure out some small compensation for the renter’s inconvenience, time and effort, even if the insurance makes them whole. Be firm, be fair. Treat them like you would expect to be treated if the roles were reversed.