State Specific Question About: CONNECTICUT (CT)

Here is what happened, to our rented one family house.

On 7/23/08 a neighbor called the fire department to report that they believe

the house was struck by lightning and there was arcing from the cable wires

where they attached to the house.

No one was home at the time.

On the report from the fire department:

There were no exterior marking made by lighting and no smoke or fire inside.

Representatives from the electrical department assessed the meter and power

line system and determined they were not struck. They (the fire dept.) left a note.

On 7/24/08 the tenant has work done to the furnace, by his oil man,

saying that he had no hot water, it was not working due to the lighting and all this TVs were blown.

Now the furnace is new and under warranty as is the electric breaker box, and he is aware of this.

We happened to called 7/25/08, to see if any water was in the cellar

because on the rain, when he tells us of the repairs to the furnace and that he paid the 279.00 bill, which he need us to pay him back.

We asked why he did not call us first and he said he did. He has our house number

which I have and answering service and he has my husbands cell and work numbers.

There is nothing to show he tried to call?

The hot water and heat are oil and he was complaining about 3 weeks earlier that he used

a tank of oil because of the hot water, but he has been in there since

April so some of the oil had to be used for heat also.

This is a bit confusing, but ignoring everything else...

You said that the furnace was under warranty, correct? Would this have been covered under the warranty if it had been called in properly? If so, then I don't see why you should pay his bill for using someone other than whoever would have warrantied it.

If that is not the case, then please explain the sitaution a bit better. Thanks.

- John...

no reimbursement w/o pre authorization.

LL decides how to spend LL's money not tenant.

Since the t.v.s were out there may have been a power outage and then when the lights came back on there may have been a surge which damaged his t.v.s

If the neighbors saw something that made them call the fire dept. I believe them. I wonder if a power surge could follow back up the cable wire through the t.v.s. Can you call an electrician and ask? Actually, the pole may have been struck and the lightening could have gone down the cable wire.

He should have called you on the furnace so you could use your warranty. Probably some parts would be covered and some labor but they might have claimed it was an insurance matter. Offer to split it with him.

We have been trying to get the electric guy to ask if it is possible to just affect the furnace and TVs. Then maybe the furnace wiring needs to be fixed so this does not happen again? Also will be asking for the parts that were replaced.

Yes, we would have called in the our furnace man, it might have not been the lighting.

If grounded right, shouldn't the breakers have popped and not hit the furnace?

What will happen the next time, if the furnace is messed up, when the heat go's on???

As far as the oil usage, they have 3 kids plus them and 2 dogs, showers and wash.Oil is bad, that is why they have a low rent, we are burning wood for heat.

Any one have a good clause for the lease that would spell this out?