I have my first tenant and she asked for my help installing the washer she bought because the connections in my house do not fit her washer. Is this my responsibility? The lease the tenenant signed says I am responsible for keeping appliances in good repair in general, but this washer is one my tenant brought in;there was no washer in the house. My thought is I am responsible for the plumbing working but she is responsible to connect her washer and to buy connections that make it work. What do you think?
I think you better help her get the washer in properly or deal with a flooded floor. It’s either a .50 cent connector or new carpet throughout.
Hi Rsupplee,
Danny makes a great point. You’ll also want to find a way to make sure she doesn’t take this as a sign that you’re her free handyman.
Let her know that you’d be happy to take care of it but she’ll have to pay a nominal charge (doesn’t have to be much for labor plus the $0.50 connector material charge). . . this is a business for you not a social service.
You also make a great point that this is her washer, not an appliance that you’re responsible to maintain. There’s a nice way to work this (usually) so that you build rapport with your tenant. Of course, there are the crappy tenants who think living in your property is an entitlement and will resent everything you try to do. You’ll just have to do your best if that’s the case.
Good luck. Let us know how it goes!
Cate