Advice needed

[Sara7987]

Hi from the Midwest USA. I have a tenant who has been in my rent house since March. They are leaving this Friday. My contract says tenant pays for first service call and now they are getting ugly and fighting it. Have any of you had this happen? I don’t want them to leave me a bad review. Thoughts? Thanks. Sara

[Dawn241]

@Sara7987 What service call? 

[Sara7987 · Accepted solution]

I'm sorry, I wasn't very thorough. They called and told me there was a leak under the kitchen sink. I have it written i lease that tenant pays first service call (plumber, electric, etc) because a. my tenants usually stay 3-4 months (traveling medical staff) and b. it keeps them from calling for every little thing.

[Helen744]

@Sara7987 this does not sound like Airbnb to me . It does not matter if it has been booked as a long term rental or short term rental in Australia the owner pays for all maintenance unless directly caused by the guest . This sounds like you do not care about your own house very much to me, or your guest . I would say fix it as soon as possible... H

[Sara7987]

You don't have to be rude. There is no reason for that. You don't know me. What a horrible thing to say to me.

Sara

[Frances3408]

@Sara7987. Did service call result in something being fixed? If not, I can understand your policy of charge back.

BUT if there was something to be fixed and the "tenant" wasnt responsible then I think its unfair. As mentioned by @Helen744 here a "tenant" (ie under a lease) cant be asked to pay for items subject to normal wear and tear, which is the responsibility of the owner to maintain.

My thoughts are that if it was the one and only service call or issue during tenancy then I probably would have worn it.

[Sara7987]

Thank you.