My renter had a plumber fix a toilet. He paid with a check and his check bounced. Now the plumber wants me to pay for the services because the renter has moved out and he cannot get in touch with him. Do I have to pay as a property owner?
2007-05-23 20:01:05 · 7 answers · asked by Marybelm 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
I don't think so. The plumber may have entered into a contract in writing or verbal with the tenant, but none so with you.
2007-05-23 20:04:54 · answer #1 · answered by teran_realtor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you protect yourself, you have no responsibility to pay your tenant's debt. However, you may have to hurry to protect yourself. As with all property related matters, what state you are in determines what you need to do and how long you have to do it...
The plumber may try to file a lien against your property. To prevent this from happening, you should see what kind of "Notice of non-responsibility" you are required to file in your state. When you do find out what form you should use, be sure to send it to EVERYONE you are supposed to copy. If it needs to be notarized or recorded, be sure to get that done as well.
Remember it is a bit of work to get all of the paperwork in order, but it could protect you from much bigger damages.
You know, the other obvious alternative is to just pay the bill and make the problem go away...
2007-05-24 13:00:22 · answer #2 · answered by MC Wife 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As the property owner, you are the one who should have paid the plimber in the first place. Upkeep is your responsibility. Since you slacked on your responsibility (or were not told by the tenet that the toilet was broken) you need to pay the bill. You would have needed to pay a plumber one way or the other, so just go on ahead and own up to your responsibilities as a landlord. Besides, you don't want the reputation among the skilled laborers in your community that you are a deadbeat.
2007-05-23 20:12:44 · answer #3 · answered by joanby 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No - as anonymous said, the plumber has no contract with you. If it is just fixing a toilet, I would pay it, as he has done the work to the benefit of your property and you might want to deal with the same plumber yourself another time, but you are not obligated.
2007-05-23 20:13:22 · answer #4 · answered by Jim C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What does your LEASE say? When I had tenants I had in my lease no work is to be performed on the home for any reason without contacting me. I am a contractor and would fix it myself. If they would call their own "plumber" in and do what yours did I would fax the plumber a copy of the signed lease from my tenant and tell them to call my lawyer. Unless its some ungodly amount just pay it. I would go through what I mentioned for principal.
2007-05-24 00:32:56 · answer #5 · answered by andy j 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Certainly not! No more than a person who newly buys a house would be responsible for the bills the previous owner created.
2007-05-23 20:06:19 · answer #6 · answered by hollymichal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You sure do!!
2007-05-23 20:03:46 · answer #7 · answered by raadsgirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋