Re: heating - Landlord Forum thread

Re: heating by Fred (MN) on February 5, 2012 @15:56

First and foremost you have to provide sufficient heating. It sounds like you've done that. Albeit temporary, you're doiung what is necessary as quickly as possible. That being said, I don't think you should reduce rent. Is it inconvenient? Yes, of course, but it's a house, and in a house things break, and THAT is what she rented. Are you going to reduce rent if the drain overflows, if the fridge quits, if the ceiling fans is on the outs... get the picture? If you set precedence, the tenants will expect rent reduction if a light bulb burns out, so my advice is don't go there. There are other tenants out there - millions of them - so if they leave, they leave.

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Re: heating by Jake on February 5, 2012 @19:16	[ Reply ]

"will expect rent reduction if a light bulb burns out" It is not a light bulb that went out. It was an obsolete 50+ year old worn out furnace. The landlord is waiting for a part to turn up in the junk yard. The heaters of his type are in the junk yard because they are junk...more than 50 year old junk. His furnace goes back to the Korean war. "There are other tenants out there - millions of them - so if they leave, they leave." I do not think anyone here knows how to respond to that. Anyone out there who knows how to respond to that?

Re: heating by Shell (NM) on February 5, 2012 @20:45	[ Reply ]

Yah, its worth it to keep a good tenant; good tenants are few and far between. Put yourself in her shoes, provide some interim heat while you replace the heater, abate the rent, everyone wins.