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Tenant Requests Reimbursement for Window A/C Unit
by Jeremy (NJ)
on August 23, 2015 @17:39
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My rental property has central A/C (and this is in the lease as something I'm responsible to repair), and my tenant reported problems this past Thursday. I had a repairman out to the property that evening who reported that the issue is in the compressor and therefore replacement is recommended. A follow-up appointment to go over replacement options is set up for this coming Wednesday.
In the interim, my tenant took it upon herself to purchase a window unit and then asked if I would consider allowing her to deduct some/all of the cost from the rent.
What would you do? On one hand, she's been a long-term tenant and I'd like her to stay happy, and the money for the window unit will likely be small in comparison to the replacement cost of the central air unit. On the other, I'm not sure this request is really reasonable, and I don't like that she didn't ask about it before going ahead and purchasing.
I think my options are: (a) let her deduct the full cost from next month's rent, but then I would have to own the window unit (and then could resell it to recoup some of the cost, (b) split it 50/50, or (c) hold the line and decline entirely.
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Re: Tenant Requests Reimbursement for Window A/C Unit
by Anonymous
on August 23, 2015 @17:55
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how long will take to repair the central unit? are you with triple digits?
In Las Vegas, you can not leave the tenants more than 24 hours with out air condition, Certainly is forbidden with triple digits! My house has home warranty and last summer one tenant report problems with the air condition, the piece to replace it took one week and I had to pay hotel for one week for the tenant eventhoug we were not with triple digits! it was home warranty problem to take so long I submit the hotels bills and home warranty paid me for the hotels bills. Tenanat was very happy never the less, two months later her husband left her, she couldn't pay the rent and destroy the house. It cost $15,000 to repair the home. So you see you can be nice to tenants n but some times it does not count!
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Re: Tenant Requests Reimbursement for Window A/C Unit
by Anonymous
on August 23, 2015 @17:56
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Texas: When my central a/c broke, SFH, I gave the tenant a choice: Either I install a 6500 BTU window unit temporarily in the master bedroom, or he could move to a hotel at my expense. He chose the window unit and within 3 hours I had bought a new unit and had it installed and he was cool. The following day the a/c service company had the main a/c fixed. And now I have a back up 6500 BTU unit in case this happens again. Your mistake was not asking the tenant what she wanted during the interim. If you had done that you could have offered alternatives.
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Re: Tenant Requests Reimbursement for Window A/C Unit
by Garry (Iowa)
on August 23, 2015 @21:26
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Here's what I think you should do. Thank her for getting a window unit so soon. Then offer to BUY the unit from her, (no 50/50) and deduct the total cost off of next months rent. In fact, you should give her an extra $25 for her time and effort to get one and install it. Remember, you said she is a long term T and you want to keep her happy. Also, remember, that good, long term Ts are hard to come by sometimes. Next, call tomorrow, another company to come out asap to give you a bid on replacing the AC. You should have at least 2-3 bids on the replacement, just like you would do if you needed to replace a furnace or a roof. Remember, the T is now "happy" with her current window unit, so there is no great rush to get the central air installed in the next week. By getting bids, you could save yourself some money, that could help offset what you paid for the window unit. Leave YOUR window unit in until October, so if the new central air, has problems, she has a backup. Then take out the window air in Oct. and its up to you if you want to keep it as a spare for other units(if you have any) or sell it next summer. Yes, central airs are expensive, but if you get a good, high end, energy eff. model, it should last 25 years. Besides, next spring, you can always raise the rent some to start helping pay for the air. ( the T can afford a small increase in rent, because she is paying less in electric costs, because you bought a highly energy efficient model.)
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Re: Tenant Requests Reimbursement for Window A/C Unit
by Shaun (FL)
on August 24, 2015 @12:37
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Even though it is not law in FL we must supply AC, you couldn't live with out it.
We have 4 window units (different sizes) that we keep, just for central AC repairs.
Buy the unit from her. Apology for not responding quicker.
A "COOL" tenant is a "happy" tenant!
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