Great tenants, bad situation

[Jane S.]

One of my best tenants, a tile setter who works with builders finishing interiors of new builds, has run into a lot of bad luck. He had several surgeries resulting from a previous condition and could not work for weeks. We have had really cold weather preventing builders from putting in foundations & closing in houses. So between his health problems and the no-work situation he can't pay the total rent. He offered to replace the bad tile & plumbing in the main bath. My problem is it's too much money for me to invest right now, as I have had bad money news as well and I really need his total monthly rent payment, which he doesnt seem to have.

I like solutions where there's a strong budget focus. I watched This Old House install a acrylic tub & surround, it didnt seem tricky.

His wife's paycheck goes to cover their medical insurance and burden.

I tentatively agreed to "hire" him to do this project--demo the existing old tile & backer board down to the studs, (bathtub is OK), create a new surround with ceramic tile & a glass band going around the 3 sides. Plus new valve & fixtures. we have nothing in writing yet. This requires more physical exertion than he can easily do. Something he is reluctant to admit. During his surgeries he could barely walk.

I agree the old ugly tile needs to be gone and the plumbing needs replacing. My choice as the owner of the property is to install a fiberglass or acrylic 3-side surround direct to the studs. Delta makes a real nice one for around $300 and I can put that on the budget plan at Home Depot. So I would then hire my plumber to do the install. When i mentioned this he said "I'm a tile guy." I've had fiberglass before and it's fine for this neighborhood.

I asked him for an estimate of the cost of materials but he didnt respond.

I am not really feeling good about the cost of his offer. 

His rent is $1745 a month, with 3 months left on his lease. He agreed he can pay $1100 for each of the 3 coming months. and he would buy the materials & do the work. He's not a plumber. But I dont think replacing the valves, lines, etc is a big deal. I did get a bid of $650 from a former plumber to just replace the plumbing, leaving the tile damaged, but that seems really high.

The more I think about it the less I am excited. With their good credit rating they could get a loan for the $2000 they owe on the rent and I could do my usual work as an owner/contractor.

What do you think? I'm "paying" him $645 times 3 months. = $1935 for the tile job. I could get the acrylic surround & plumbing installed for much less. The demo of the old stuff wont take more than an hour. There is mold between the tub & existing tile, i dont know whats going on back there.

thanks in advance for tne benefit of your experience.

[Dennis M.]

I would not trade work for rent . That never works out . Literally every time I’ve tried it I got burnt or lost money . If he can’t pay he can’t stay simple as that . You’ve got a business to run and he should have had a savings for a rainy day . You’ve got financial obligations and can’t be doing this kind of foolishness going forward