I'm in Pinellas County Florida, and we had a tenant who had went away over Christmas. She had a neighbor watching her cats, and one day the tenant called to say her friend smelled gas in her apt. I sent someone over, who found a pilot light out, and they turned the gas off.
When she returned from her trip, she took her cat to the vet due to coughing/weezing, etc. The vet admitted the cat, and stated it had problems due to the gas.
Now that tenant has just taken her vet bill out of February's rent.
Where can I get information stating that the landlord isn't responsible for her pilot light going out while she was out of townk?

Thank You,
Nena

Have a look at this site.
http://www.sg.ufl.edu/organizations/sls/SLSDocs/Landlord%20Tenant%20Guide.pdf

I was curious about it and I even wonted to know. It may or may not help.

[QUOTE=MandalayRentals]I'm in Pinellas County Florida, and we had a tenant who had went away over Christmas. She had a neighbor watching her cats, and one day the tenant called to say her friend smelled gas in her apt. I sent someone over, who found a pilot light out, and they turned the gas off.
When she returned from her trip, she took her cat to the vet due to coughing/weezing, etc. The vet admitted the cat, and stated it had problems due to the gas.
Now that tenant has just taken her vet bill out of February's rent.
Where can I get information stating that the landlord isn't responsible for her pilot light going out while she was out of townk?



In any jurisdiction I am aware of you cannot simply subtract bills or expenses from the rent - rent is rent and what you do or don't pay is a separate issue.

I would send a demand letter giving her X days to pay her rent in full or be evicted - if you are prepared to evict her.

Or you'll have to take her to Small Claims and sue for the balance she owes you, taking along the bill from the person who took care of the pilot light. I think it's pretty self explanatory that you are not responsible for going into her apartment to see if her pilot light is on - wonder why it went out? I'd be pretty grateful that my cat was still alive but I guess that's just me.

(Why does she think the pilot light being off was your fault?)