To Charge or Not to Charge, that is the question?

[Cory Lucas]

I'm perplexed on the best way to handle this. Had a pipe burst at a unit, I couldn't figure out why as we haven't had issue before, but the pipes are exposed in the garage of this place and they sit relatively close to the door, but there's heat down there. Long story short, pipe burst and in talking with the tenant he eventually came around to say that he thinks it was his fault cause he left over the weekend and turned the heat off. 

He's been a great tenant to this point and while it's a boneheaded mistake it was an honest one I feel as he's young. However, my question to you all is am I better to charge him for the services rendered to fix the pipe now and collect for it, as it is being billed as an emergent call on a Sunday or wait until his tenancy is up, which I feel may happen at the end of his current lease and just take it out of his security deposit? I'm leaning toward the security deposit, but was curious since this is the first time having something of this nature happen at our properties as to what the BP community's suggestions are. Thanks in advance

[Charles Carillo]

@Cory Lucas

If you are going to charge him, do it right now. Never wait until the end of the lease.