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angelcc425 · Jan 14, 2008, 04:32 PM

At what point is it the landlord's responsibility to fix things that the tenant breaks in a brand new, totally renovated rental home in Georgia? Legally, who should pay for repair if tenant blows out a brand new GFI in the bathroom by leaving an electrical heater on over night? I have already replaced a brand new oven heating element (that she used to heat the house). She does not want to consume gas so she has chosen to use electric space heaters. The home has only been rented to (only) her for 4 months. Help.

Fr_Chuck · Jan 14, 2008, 04:39 PM

A GFI should not go out by being used all night, and a stove element does not burn out by being used over night.

These are landlords duties to fix, unless your rental agreement specifies repairs under certain dollar value is the tennatns.

Are you a beginning landlord?

angelcc425 · Jan 14, 2008, 04:52 PM

I am a new landlord. This tenant has burned out a brand new oven heating element. I replaced it. Defective? I doubt it. Also, She now has blown the GFI she said by leaving this heater on. Defective? I doubt that too. The electric is totally brand new. At what point is it unreasonable to ask the landlord to fix things that the tenant breaks?

Fr_Chuck · Jan 14, 2008, 05:18 PM

Sorry just wait, I have owned rental houses for 30 years. Sold off my last one this last year.

But a tenant on the other hand has a right to expect their electric to be able to burn a heater ( space) and their outlets not burn out. I should be able to plug a heater in a properly wired outlet and it should run for weeks.

And it is common for people to warm their home with the store oven, in poorer people it is done all the time.

And sorry but you will be getting all sorts of repairs. If you don't fix them, wait till they call the building inspector or the zoning people.
Or take you to housing court for not proving a lialbe home.

If you don't want space heaters you would need to have specific rules in a lease. And it sounds like you are renting a lower income type housing, which is going to be more problems than you can ever dream.

angelcc425 · Jan 14, 2008, 06:27 PM

Thanks for the insight. I understand all your points. Guess I have a lot to look forward to!! Good luck to you also! Was just curious when enough was enough in a NEW house!