Hallway Electric Fixture on Tenant 's Electric

[Mike Savage]

Hi, 

My tenant just discovered that three different ceiling lights with led bulbs in hallway are on her electricity. I do not have anything in lease that says anything exactly on who pays for the hallway lights. She is asking me to pay her for all the past months she has had lease with me. 

I checked online and it seems like Led bulbs have a consumption of $9 per year. With 3 bulbs in total, it will be 27$ per year. But she is demanding 70$ per month and not budging. What do you guys think I should do - pay her the entire amount or .. 

Thanks for a great forum and advice in advance. 

Mike.

[Bill B.]

Assuming there is zero way to get other power to those fixtures (including paying an electrician a few hundred $’s so it’s right for this and following tenants.) and you can’t find a decent battery operated version. And you decide these lights are a safety requirement. I would include a photo of the led light box saying what the yearly cost to run the bulb would be (remember to double or triple the number if it says running 8 or 12 Horus per day.) and then say I can offer you this much or I can let you out of your lease and if you wish to meet in small claims court I will see you there.