Lease provision requires renter to pay a $100 "copay" for repair costs -- is this a thing?

[Anonymous]

A family member is looking to rent an apartment and encountered a landlord with a lease addendum that requires the tenant to fork over a $100 "copay" for minor repairs, in every instance.

I'm reading that to mean that if the fridge conks out and needs fixing, my family member has to pay the first $100 toward the cost. Ditto if the stove breaks, the toilet needs a plumber, or water is getting in around a window frame.

Is this kind of provision common now? It's been more than 15 years since I was a renter, but I thought part of the responsibility of being a landlord was that you foot the bills for keeping the rental unit in working order. I mean, if some kid messes up the pipes by flushing his toys down the toilet, that's a different story -- but I'm talking about normal wear and tear and things breaking through ordinary use.

My family member is reluctant to sign a lease with such a provision, and I can't say I blame them.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Never heard of that. My last landlord responded immediately whenever I called her with a problem but I didn't call her if it was something minor I could fix myself at low cost. I would not sign a lease with that provision.

[Anonymous]

Seems like it would encourage tenants to handle very basic things themselves and cut down on nuisance maintenance calls but still have the onus of major issues and repairs on the landlord.

[Anonymous]

It probably covers the minimum fee a handyman charges just to come to the property to evaluate the repair.

[Anonymous]

It would be illegal in DC. Sounds like a small landlord who doesn’t like dealing with tenants

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It probably covers the minimum fee a handyman charges just to come to the property to evaluate the repair.

Yes but that’s part of the landlord’s responsibility, unless the tenant caused the problem.

[Anonymous]

I would rent if the place was at least $300 less per month than a comparable place, figuring that I'll need maybe two calls per month on average at the most, and then a little extra for renting from a place where the landlord is a pain.

[Anonymous]

My daughter even better they made her buy a home warranty and was required to call them and arrange repair

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the landlord had a tenant that was a problem before and called about very minor issues all the time.

[Anonymous]

This is genius if legal. I'm just upset I had never thought of this. If you've never been a small landlord that's not local than you have no idea the frustration with getting a call from a renter about a plug going out just to fork over hundreds of dollars to an electrician to find out that the gfci tripped because of... If the landlord is a decent person than this is 100% to get the buy in from the renter to not abuse the situation and to use some common sense not a money grab.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't sign that. But it does make good sense from a landlord perspective. Tenants better be sure before asking for a repair, and should take good care of things to avoid repairs if possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is genius if legal. I'm just upset I had never thought of this. If you've never been a small landlord that's not local than you have no idea the frustration with getting a call from a renter about a plug going out just to fork over hundreds of dollars to an electrician to find out that the gfci tripped because of... If the landlord is a decent person than this is 100% to get the buy in from the renter to not abuse the situation and to use some common sense not a money grab.

Majority of small repairs tenant caused.

Large repairs. Usually Fridge or Water Burner died. But small ones they often broke it or too lazy to fix it even if a 5 minute thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is genius if legal. I'm just upset I had never thought of this. If you've never been a small landlord that's not local than you have no idea the frustration with getting a call from a renter about a plug going out just to fork over hundreds of dollars to an electrician to find out that the gfci tripped because of... If the landlord is a decent person than this is 100% to get the buy in from the renter to not abuse the situation and to use some common sense not a money grab.

If I have to pay $100 for a new shut off valve in the sink, I'm taking it with me when I leave.

[Anonymous]

Is this an individual landlord or a property management company?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It probably covers the minimum fee a handyman charges just to come to the property to evaluate the repair.

Yes but that’s part of the landlord’s responsibility, unless the tenant caused the problem.

With WFH a lot of tenants are causing more wear-and-tear on homes. Makes sense that now a nuisance fee is attached.