Non Paying tenant repairs

[Bo Morgan]

My tenant messaged me last night asking me to get him a new stove because his isn't working. The stove caught on fire last week and is probably why the stove top stopped working. Normally I would just replace it no problem, but he's 2 months behind on rent and this is the first time he's contacted me since May 30th. We are in the middle of an eviction and he is playing it out as long as possible via taking me to trial after I filed a complaint for non payment of rent. Should I replace the stove or should I wait until after the trial?

[Kathy Johnson]

If you have access to an inexpensive used stove, put that in until the eviction is done.  You want something working in there so the judge doesn't see you as the problem, but you don't want to put something nice in there for the current tenant to catch on fire.  Document everything though.  If the current tenant had a grease fire then bill him for the replacement stove.  You know he won't pay, but just document everything so court can go well for you.