Water shut off over night in rental do I pay their hotel bill

Member since 2019 · 7 posts · 7 votes

The water pipe broke outside the house on my side of the meter so I had it fixed. The water has to be shut off for 8 hours because the location is saturated with water and needs extra time. The tenants went to a hotel for the night. Should I pay for the hotel?

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Matthew Paul

Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes

If it went 24 hours I would say yes . For 8 hours , no .

I have properties on a well , When the electric goes out they have no water . It has happened to me at my house . No water for a week , Bottled water for drinking . Filled 5 gallon buckets at the river to flush toilets . And used a lot of deodorant .

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Matthew Paul
Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
7y
If it went 24 hours I would say yes . For 8 hours , no .
I have properties on a well , When the electric goes out they have no water . It has happened to me at my house . No water for a week , Bottled water for drinking . Filled 5 gallon buckets at the river to flush toilets . And used a lot of deodorant .
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Katie Stewart
Specialist · Fort Collins, CO · Member since 2018 · 557 posts · 191 votes
7y
As Matthew said, since it was under 24 hours I would pass on paying for the hotel. More than 24 hours, definitely cover the hotel cost.
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Dennis M.
Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 9k+ votes
7y
@Rick Harmon
One day - nope .i May give them a one day rent prorate but I’m not putting them up in the holiday inn that was there choice
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Thomas S.
Member since 2016 · 13k+ posts · 12k+ votes
7y
Absolutely not. If you do they will expect you to jump every time a light bulb burns out.
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Rick Harmon
OP
Member since 2019 · 7 posts · 7 votes
7y
Yes it seems a bit to run off to a hotel, I offered to pay for their dinner, but they are a family of 5 so that still will be expensive. No hotel yes dinner. UGH but they are good renters so not nearly as bad as the $899 for the water line fix.
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Tom S.
Real Estate Investor · Burlington, VT · Member since 2010 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
7y
@Rick Harmon FYI - going forward in your next lease, you should have a requirement for them to have renters insurance, and the insurance would pay for it. It's only one night in this situation but if you have a major issue in the future, this would vertainly help.
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Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
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Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
7y
Seriously?!? Anyone can live eight hours without water. They can live a couple days without water with only minor inconvenience. It was their choice to go to a hotel.
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Chris Szepessy
Catskill, NY · Member since 2018 · 636 posts · 668 votes
7y
Yeah, definitely don't pay. I have really good tenants who I've gone above and beyond for, but 8 hrs. w/o water and they need to stay in a hotel? It's inconvenient, but they could've managed. Do they not have a single relative/close friend that they could've used their house to shower at? We had a water main break in the village where I live recently..affected almost everyone. Schools closed. The water was off for more than 8 hours and everyone survived just fine.
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Max T.
Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
7y
I had water go out for a few days last winter at a duplex. I don't think the tenants went to a hotel. They showered at friend's houses or the gym. I pro-rated the rent during that time.
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