Tenants keep putting food in the garbage disposal and blocking it.

[Maria De La Vega]

Hi all,

I rent two room to two different  tenants in my 3B/3B  property. I do not live in the property but I have access to.

They have blocked the garbage disposal a couple of times and I had to figure out how to unblocked it every time. One of the tenant has informed me that the garbage disposal is blocked again and we found food and pieces of chicken inside of it. I have told them several times to both of the tenants to not put food in there. 

I am getting tired of it and I don't know if I should let them handle this matter themself. 

Is this the Landlord or tenant's responsibility?

Should I make them pay to fix it? if so, how?

TIA

[Brad Gibson]

I've had units with garbage disposals.  First call, I had the clog fixed by our maintenance guy.  Second time they called, I indicated we would send someone out, but it would be to remove the garbage disposal.  

Tenant protested.  I indicated that blockages of the plumbing were their responsibility.  They can get it repaired at their expense or I would simply remove the device.  Tenant handled the clog and got it fixed themselves.