To landlords: my tenant had a fire in the kitchen

[Ivan Vasquez]

Hi. I’m a new landlord. How should i proceed w this situation. My tenant just called saying they just had a fire in the kitchen. They were cooking w a pan filled w oil and started a large fire and damaged the microwave above the stove. Stove and cabinets are fine. We requested the tenant to have renters insurance but they have a $500 deductible. And a microwave is about $250. My tenant is on unemployment due to COVID and just had a baby this week. I also have home warranty insurance on my appliances, not sure this would be covered under it.

What’s the right way to handle this?

[Chris B.]

I think that would be generous and kind of you to install it yourself and save her some money if you have the capability to do so. I also have frequently repaired damage with my own free labor in the past to be kind to tenants in tight situations. I'd recommend not taking it out of the security deposit to protect yourself down the road and also when you give an inch, people take a mile. I've been very helpful to tenants in the past only to have several of them eventually depart with no gratitude leaving damage / trash / unpaid rent which the deposit was insufficient to cover. Keep business as business.