 Drain Cleaning (by Sparky [OR]) Jan 15, 2009 5:56 PM
 Drain Cleaning (by Tina [NC]) Jan 15, 2009 6:14 PM
Drain Cleaning (by Tina [NC]) Jan 15, 2009 6:17 PM
Drain Cleaning (by Irish [MD]) Jan 15, 2009 6:45 PM
Drain Cleaning (by Smokowna [MD]) Jan 15, 2009 7:07 PM
Drain Cleaning (by peter [NY]) Jan 15, 2009 7:08 PM
Drain Cleaning (by Virden [OH]) Jan 15, 2009 7:29 PM
Drain Cleaning (by Josh [CA]) Jan 15, 2009 8:16 PM
Drain Cleaning (by SAM [OR]) Jan 15, 2009 9:01 PM
Drain Cleaning (by Dave [GA]) Jan 16, 2009 8:23 AM
Drain Cleaning (by Sparky [OR]) Posted on: Jan 15, 2009 5:56 PM
Message:
State Specific Question About: OREGON (OR)
In May I paid $113 to have a tenant's kitchen drain cleaned out. The Saturday after Christmas, the same tenant left a message that the drain was plugged again. I was out of cell phone coverage, but called her back the next day. She had called our emergency maintenance company and had them out. I got a bill for $637 to clean all 3 drains! My phone msg clearly states to call only for emergencies that can't wait. Should I charge her the difference between a business hour call and the after hours emergency call? Should I be paying to clean drains at all? If I stop, would I have to change everyone's rental agreements? I have 11 units. In 7 years this is the first tenant to call the after hours maintenance co. I don't want to lose the tenant, she is perfect in every other respect, and the cost of a turnover might not be worth it. Advice, please! --71.111.xxx.xxx |
Drain Cleaning (by Tina [NC]) Posted on: Jan 15, 2009 6:14 PM
Message:
I have 95 units and insist that all repairs go thru me. I have made this VERY clear to all tenants and all repair/maintanence companies that I do business with. If one of my tenants call someone for a repair, I feel that they should pay for it. I would never allow another person to spend my money.
However, if you allow this on "emergencies that can't wait" bases, I feel that you will have to eat this one. Different things "can't wait" to different people.
However, I would immediately send out notice that all repairs will go thru me. You should then let all companies that you do business with know that you WILL NOT pay any repairs that are not called in by you or a person that you would allow this responsibility. --24.74.xx.xx |
Drain Cleaning (by Tina [NC]) Posted on: Jan 15, 2009 6:17 PM
Message:
I read you posting again and noticed your thought that should you be paying for drains. If the first time they were cleaned, it was something that the tenant put in them, I would at that time give notice that I would not pay again. I always clean drains the first time with a tenant because they will say that the tenant before caused the problem. Just some of my thoughts, hope I have helped. --24.74.xx.xx |
Drain Cleaning (by Irish [MD]) Posted on: Jan 15, 2009 6:45 PM
Message:
For sure the number one thing I would want to know and seek to find out...by calling the emergency maint. co. to find out what the heck they did, what they saw and what was the cause of the problem...so I could make a decision on how to proceed. I would also ask the tenant what the emergency maint. co. told the tenant..to verify the story compared to what the co. statements were... --68.236.xxx.xxx |
Drain Cleaning (by Smokowna [MD]) Posted on: Jan 15, 2009 7:07 PM
Message:
All three drains were not an emergency. Heat is an emergency, a main line not flushing is an emergency.
Holiday rice pudding down the kitchen sink is an inconvenience.
I would only pay for a portion of that bill. My lease states that they pay the whole bill.
Do not spend my money. --173.66.x.xxx |
Drain Cleaning (by peter [NY]) Posted on: Jan 15, 2009 7:08 PM
Message:
I would find new plumber $637.00 is upserd.or if you got that kind of money call me. --71.176.xx.xx |
Drain Cleaning (by Virden [OH]) Posted on: Jan 15, 2009 7:29 PM
Message:
I would be inclined to come from Ohio with the gas prices below 2bux, the bill is way outa line unless they have camera footage to prove otherwise, because this is repeat offense this is the tenants bill anyway, a kitchen sink is not a sanitation emergency, my kids know they can wash dishes in the bathtub, laundry or just stack them up like everyone else does.
Sorry but no mercy here on this one. --99.160.xx.xx |
Drain Cleaning (by Josh [CA]) Posted on: Jan 15, 2009 8:16 PM
Message:
You have 11 units. I would cancel that after hours service. No one spends my money without my ok'ing it. Not even my GF.
You let phone calls go to voice mail. You do not answer after say 9pm at night. However you monitor the calls to see if their is a real emergency. Emergency is Fire, Flood or blood.
Drains are not an emergency.
Just last night I had a call from one of my tenants about his kitchen sink drain. Told him to try plunger he had then told him to call roto rooter and it would be on his dime. He did. I got a call from roto rooter. Dispatch asking if it was ok to work on my property. Was I aware of the plumbing problem. I said yes I was and it was on the tenants dime.
They said ok. We will have the plumber call you with what the sitch is. I said great. Thank you. Plumber calls says the clog was 20 feet down the main drain and that the tenant had already paid for it. $157.00
I told him no if it was in the main drain it's my bill. Cancel the tenants payment and bill me. I asked him if he ran the clog all the way out to the sewer.
Yes I did.
Main drains are your dime in a multi dwelling building.
Clogs in the toilet before the main drain. The sinks before the main drain are the tenants.
Key with my plumbing event is....
1.)
Tenant is aware what is their fault and is willing to pay.
2.)
Plumbing company has a good policy of communication and follow-up
3.)
LL knows what is their responsibility to take care of and does so right away.
--66.214.x.xx |
Drain Cleaning (by SAM [OR]) Posted on: Jan 15, 2009 9:01 PM
Message:
Was this YOUR approved contractor?
Horse is out of the barn at this point,so if they called your emergency repair number that you approved, then you'll most likely have to pay.
Cleaing out 3 drains is not an emergency. The contractor padded his bill big time! You can probably protest the insane cost.
I'm sure John-NJ will be along to tell you how to "expertly" deal with said plukmber
Good Luck --75.170.xx.xx |
Drain Cleaning (by Dave [GA]) Posted on: Jan 16, 2009 8:23 AM
Message:
Not sure why this is an Oregon-specific question, but...
Some good responses; take the advice offered so far. For SFH, put the onus on the tenants at lease signing. Any plumbing stoppages are the tenants' responsibility. At the same time, as mentioned earlier, monitor the calls. Do not give tenants a phone number for emergency repairs; only your number. If a toilet or sewer line is overflowing and possibly causing property damage, take care of it but bill the tenant; IF the tenant caused the problem.
Multi units are a different story. Usually the LL's responsibility. There still might be a way to charge them if they caused the problem, however. --66.245.xxx.xxx |
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