Tenant Posts on Social Networking Site

Tenant Posts on Social Networking Site by Rita (MO) on March 31, 2012 @11:16

You all have had such good advice that I am back to ask another question...

I googled one of my tenant's names and found a post that he made on Facebook complaining about a plumbing "burst/leak" in early March. I suspect that the tenant has done some unauthorized repair because the water was turned off during a lawn service appointment a few days after the date on the post. At that time of the lawn service appointment, I e-mailed the tenant to let them know that they were unable to complete their scheduled appointment (of which days/times are clearly listed in the lease), asked if there was a plumbing issue and stated that I would get a plumber out ASAP if there was.

The lease states that it's the tenants' responsibility to report necessary repairs/emergencies, no alterations, use the landlord's plumber, etc. Therefore, failure to report the plumbing issue should be a lease violation. Repair of it without using the landlord's plumber certainly would be.

As I saw the FB post several weeks after the incident(s) and the periodic inspection held a few days after noted all plumbing functioning, would this be worth following up on? Secondly, are printed FB posts admissible in court if this was a minor plumbing issue that causes a major plumbing issue?

For the record, I am not a FB "friend" of any tenant. Some people choose not to block their posts from the world.

Thanks in advance!

~Rita

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Re: Tenant Posts on Social Networking Site by OK-LL on March 31, 2012 @11:22	[ Reply ]

If your inspection was thorough and revealed no plumbing problems, tenant was probably dramatizing for his FB audience. But you can always address this directly with your tenant by asking a simple question. "I saw on your FB that you had what sounded like a major plumbing problem back in March, what was it and how did it get resolved?" Easy peasy. Why is it LLs don't want to communicate with their tenants?

Re: Tenant Posts on Social Networking Site by Jake on March 31, 2012 @11:58	[ Reply ]

I am not sure what you want out of this. If you made an inspection and there was no damage and no evidence of a repair, what do you want? You want to take your tenant to court for what?

Re: Tenant Posts on Social Networking Site

Ques and info for Rita

Re: Ques and info for Rita

Re: Tenant Posts on Social Networking Site by Jaws, CA on March 31, 2012 @20:17	[ Reply ]

The tenant may have called a plumber because he/she caused the plumbing problem. If there is no damage to your property or cost to you, I would blow off the FB post.

Re: Tenant Posts on Social Networking Site