All Forum Posts by: Timothy Burns

Mine just says, Tenant agrees to maintain indoor temperature of unit at no less than 58 degrees during the entire period of outdoor cold weather, including during Tenant absences of any length. It also states no fuel-operated space heaters and that fireplace is never to be used as a heat source.

Make sure going forward all leases have a clause about requirement to maintain minimum temperature even if absent -- mine is 58 degrees and has a initial block next to it so they can't say they weren't aware of the term. May not help much realistically but does make it a lease violation. I knew an investor where his duplex tenant let pipes burst, and he did get a significant judgment for damages after several months but never got paid because tenant just left the state. I had property management once tell me they couldn't do anything because the tenant hadn't given notice yet and still had some property inside when they posted pay or quit, but the power company had told me the heat had been turned off when I called to check (apparently landlord utility revert doesn't work properly if tenant just doesn't pay).  I drove in from out of state, entered myself and had the heat turned on in my name as an emergency. It's not worth the damage it can cause, even if I got stuck with the heat bill until resolved. 

Make sure going forward all leases have a clause about requirement to maintain minimum temperature even if absent -- mine is 58 degrees and has a initial block next to it so they can't say they weren't aware of the term. May not help much realistically but does make it a lease violation. I knew an investor where his duplex tenant let pipes burst, and he did get a significant judgment for damages after several months but never got paid because tenant just left the state. I had property management once tell me they couldn't do anything because the tenant hadn't given notice yet and still had some property inside when they posted pay or quit, but the power company had told me the heat had been turned off when I called to check (apparently landlord utility revert doesn't work properly if tenant just doesn't pay).  I drove in from out of state, entered myself and had the heat turned on in my name as an emergency. It's not worth the damage it can cause, even if I got stuck with the heat bill until resolved. 

I didn't read every post but was a smart thermostat recommended? One that you, yourself can set and control at any time from your phone?

I didn't read every post but was a smart thermostat recommended? One that you, yourself can set and control at any time from your phone?

@Timothy Burns fingers crossed for you... sounds horrible. I'm in the middle of an eviction now and the tenant has not paid since July, when my agent goes by he's never there and his "girlfriend" and some local rif-raff seem to have pretty much taken over. Per legal advice we cannot just change locks and have to wait for eviction to proceed. I'm really hearing the echoes of everyone on the forums here talking about the importance of tenant selection (we inherited this tenant).

Fingers crossed for you, I can only imagine how stressful it must be.

The heat pipes will freeze and burst if the heat is not left on.  That will cause major damage to Landlord's property. Is Tenant responsible for paying the utility (heat) bill?  Could that be why the Tenant is keeping the heat off?