Service Call Charge - Landlord Forum thread 331657

Service Call Charge by Elizabeth Beck (Kansas) on March 2, 2015 @22:10

I have a new tenant that just moved in like 3 days. On day 2 of her occupancy she complained the dishwasher was not working and that a sink was leaking in master bathroom. Now, my husband had just left unit the day before they moved in and the dishwasher was working and there was no leak. I specifically asked tenant to check that dishwasher was plugged in and she told me yes.
Now the sink, one of the sinks in my master bath has never had very good water pressure, since home was built. I have had 3 plumbers try to diagnose the issue, but cannot figure out why. The only explanation anyone has come up with has been that maybe a pebble or something is caught in a line under the house, and I am looking at big dollars to search it out. So I have just left it and let it be.
So new tenants father decided to try and diagnose pressure issue and fiddled with the faucet. I also specifically asked if started after her father started toying with the faucet and she said no.
So today I get plumber out, only to be told the dishwasher was NOT in fact plugged in and that the sink was leaking because the father had failed to put the faucet back together properly causing it to leak.
I am pretty annoyed that I am now having to cough up $75 plumber fee because of their negligence and stupidity. Can I charge them for this fee? I have been trying to find a way to word the bill to send to her, but this is my first time renting my home out so I am new to this game. Thanks in advance!

[ Reply ] [ Return to forum ]

Re: Service Call Charge by Anonymous on March 2, 2015 @22:45	[ Reply ]

Sent half the bill to your husband for not plugging the dishwasher back in/ the tenant can pay the other half. Why is you dishwasher not hard wired?

Re: Service Call Charge

Re: Service Call Charge by Lighthope on March 3, 2015 @01:04	[ Reply ]

> Can I charge them for this fee? No, I don't think so. > the dishwasher was NOT in fact plugged in If it was working a couple days before when your husband was there, how did the plug fall out? Not plugged in very well? I can't believe the tenants moved the dishwasher just for giggles. > I specifically asked tenant to check that dishwasher was > plugged in and she told me yes. Possibly just took a cursory glance rather than got in there and really checked. You won't win on this one. > the sink was leaking because the father had failed to put > the faucet back together properly causing it to leak. But it was leaking before. Does that mean that the father fixed the leak and caused a new one? You won't win on this one either. In this case, I think you're out of luck. Lighthope Pearls of Wisdom - Commandment I: You shall have no others gods before Me.

Re: Service Call Charge

Re: Service Call Charge by Anonymous on March 3, 2015 @02:09	[ Reply ]

Tell the tenant that her father is not a certified plumber, and is not to be working on your house. Remind the tenant she was to check that the appliance is plugged in. It sounds like this wasn't done. Not properly checking is going to have her washing her dishes in the sink. She does know how to wash dishes in a sink, even in a pinch? Have her "plumber" father call you. If he does, clearly tell him he is not to be working on any of your house's plumbing.

Re: Service Call Charge by Anonymous on March 3, 2015 @02:13	[ Reply ]

I believe the OP is saying the dishwasher was probably unplugged under the sink when someone put cleaning supplies away. It is not necessary to hard wire a dishwasher......some are plugged in under the sink area.

Re: Service Call Charge

Re: Service Call Charge by Katiekate (New York) on March 3, 2015 @09:35	[ Reply ]

I would get that in writing from the plumber and then send a copy of the plumbers letter and the bill. I would require payment immediately. I would include it in the rent and if they still do not pay ... Post a notice I had a couple of girls that were making frivolous complaints. My guy went and found nothing wrong. I sent them a letter. I stated that henceforth when they make a complaint and I send my guys out...if no problem is found they will have to pay the service charge of $50 for the call (what my guys charge me). The complaints stopped.

Re: Service Call Charge by Anonymous on March 3, 2015 @10:33	[ Reply ]

Yes, frivilous calls should be charged to the tenant, especially after you gave clear instructions via telephone. I'm not giving free service calls for items which should be within the normal person's ability to comprehend and perform, such as flip the breakers, plug appliances into the outlet, etc.

Re: Service Call Charge by Stephen (WA - Washington) on March 3, 2015 @14:13	[ Reply ]

This is why I normally visit the site personally to assess the issue. First, many tenant issues are not communicated well over the phone (or email) and it becomes clearer when I'm standing there, looking, prodding, poking, and listening to the tenant's description. Second, I would have personally checked whether the dishwasher was plugged-in (all mine are hard wired but the concept tracks).

Re: Service Call Charge by MrDan (Georgia) on March 3, 2015 @14:50	[ Reply ]

How you handle this will determine if your relationship with this tenant will be a good one or a bad one. Things happen, especially during a new move in. Quit trying to find fault and just address the problem professionally. Explain your repair procedures and follow up with it in writing also. You can make this into a situation where resentment flourishes on both sides or you can use this situation as a teaching tool to inform your new tenants how to handle repair request. Why did your husband not check this out before you had a plumber come? Repairing a faucet is a simple job. Checking the D/W plug, well simple too. The question is, is $75 worth it to have a good relationship with this tenant for duration of the lease?

Re: Service Call Charge

Re: Service Call Charge by CA/OR on March 5, 2015 @01:31	[ Reply ]

Your response will set the tone for the relationship hereafter. Given the best intentions, you can appreciate the human error of accidently dislodging the plug from the outlet....and whatever the situation with the tenant's good-intentioned father, I suspect he was just trying to help, in a simple unintrusive means. Human error aside, it appear there may be integrity flags if she is intentionally lying about the circumstances; however, if those are the facts, I would pay the service charge this one/first time but would impress upon the tenant that she is responsible for payment for any future similar occurances; with the reminder that no work is to be done on anything unless prior approval.