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  1. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
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    Default Re: Who Picks the Contractor and Who Pays for It

    Quote Quoting Mazy5
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    Massechussettes
    When we moved into our new rental property, we told the landlord that we had an electric dryer (she was only equipped with gas) & she said that she would have a 220 volt plug put in for us. We had a contractor that we wanted to use (because it was a friend of ours that would do a good job & give everyone a good deal), but she said that she would take care of it (she wanted to use her brother's friend...) The guy NEVER showed up. He would set a date & time with me & never keep it. After nothing happening for two weeks, we were a bit upset & told him not to bother (he was VERY rude and abusive to my husband over the phone, but okay when speaking to me). My husband told the landlord that he would not permit such a person near his family (my husband felt a little threatened, I think.) So, she found a different contractor, who did come out the very next day.

    But now, a few weeks later, we are given a $300 bill for the plug installation!!! We were not expecting it to cost even half this much, and we really didn't think that WE were paying anything since she said she "had it". Are we really held responsible for this bill? And if we were going to be expected to pay for the contractor, then shouldn't we have had a say in who it was? Will we be allowed to refuse contractor work in the future if we don't get to pick who he is?

    Thanks!
    The first thing I would check is to see if your lease has anything to say about it.

    Generally, at my rentals, if the tenant needs to have electrical outlets added, such as for an electric dryer, it's at the tenant's expense, and he must use a licensed professional, in this case, an electrician. This is because when I rent you the house or apartment, "what you see is what you get", and I see no reason I have to make capital improvements because you happen to own an appliance that I don't have a hookup for.

    What is STANDARD in all leases is you need the landlord's permission in order to make any alterations, and here, it appears you got the permission. At my rentals, permission is only given for "licensed insured professionals", so if they cost too much, then, I would tell the tenant not to bother with the job.

    Same deal if there is no washer hookup. You are not going to tell me now that you now have a washer, I have to pay to run hot and cold water, sewer lines, and in some cases, obtain plumbing permits, get proper inspections done, just because you want a washer. I would say, "go to a laundromat". If this was important, then rent a place with a washer hookup. You could've rented a place that has a 220 outlet too, and the landlord could've rented the place to someone with a gas dryer.

    I can't comment on the $300.00 cost because in some localities, to do the job properly means you need permits and inspections, and that tends to run the cost up. And I don't know if this "friend" of yours is a licensed electrician either. I was surprised at a rental I own, now for over 20 years, changing a hot water tank now requires a permit, and inspection, which was not required years ago, so "an unlicensed friend" doing it would not do.

    Sorry if there are miscommunications with the landlord, but I'm just telling you what the deal is at my rentals. I have the same situation with people wanting roof antennae and satellite dishes installed. They have to get a professional, not a friend who can "drill baby drill".

    And you would have to get a professional installer, and I don't want my roof or siding ruined, costing me thousands, to save the tenants a few dollars. Of course, you would have to pay for it too. As far as I'm concerned, you can always get cable, and the law is the landlord cannot prevent cable companies from doing instalaltions. However, these people are licensed and insured.

    And usually, what adds to the problem is when someone needs something done CHEAP, yet wants someone to drop everything and hop on it NOW. My experience is CHEAP and NOW usually don't co-exist.

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