Faulty cooker in rented property

Emma79

I have a great relationship with my tenant who has been renting from me for over a year.

Just recently the oven we installed 9 months ago has stopped working. It is still under guaranteee and the manufacturer has said they will come out to fix it. The only problem is that they won't give am/pm - just 8-6pm! So my tenant is a bit peeved at having to stay in all day.

I have a small child so it isn't really appropriate for me to be hanging around in the house waiting for an engineer, but she is works shift work and will probably have to arrange holiday.

What would you do?!

Rebchappers

Do you live close by to the property? You could always ask the engineer to ring you on your mobile when he is on his way over.... then you could meet them at the property and it saves you hanging around?

abaxas

Emma79 wrote: »

The only problem is that they won't give am/pm - just 8-6pm! So my tenant is a bit peeved at having to stay in all day.

You have a nice tenant. If it was me, YOU'd be waiting in all day for the engineer to come. It's you resposibility, hence your waiting time.

sugarpants_2

My landlord used to wait round my house with 3 kids (she was a childminder) she was more than happy to do it considering I was paying her £850 a month rent!!

Lavendyr

From a tenant's perspective, I would expect to be the one to have to wait in for the engineer. It's to my benefit, after all, and if I had to take a day's holiday to sort it, then I would. I wouldn't think it fair that the landlord should stay in my home for a day to get something fixed that I would be benefiting from. The landlord should certainly arrange the repairs, but I would expect to be sitting in the house myself waiting for the engineer.

Like others said, can't the engineer phone your tenant an hour or so before getting there to give her time to get back from work?

cruella_de_vile

I'm not sure I would want a 'stranger' in my house for the day without me. I appreciate the 'stranger' would be the LL but still a stranger.

Debt_Free_Chick

The tenant's position would be no different if they were the homeowner. It's "just part & parcel of life".

You've done your bit. If the tenant insists that you are available to deal with the engineer, is she happy for you to be hanging around in her home all day? What on earth would you do to kill time?

A bit of pragmatism needed, I think.

Emma79

Thanks for all of your suggestions and comments!!

I've just left her a message requesting that if she can arrange to be around until 1pm, I'll come over and cover the afternoon wait/shift. Hopefully good relations and fixed ovens here!