Tenant pays for repairs

[snowshuze]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Missouri

My son says his lease states he pays for first $45 of any repairs necessary to his rented home. Three weeks after moving in, the dishwasher made popping noises and began to smoke. Son pulled it out and disconnected the wiring. He says he won't notify LL because he doesn't intend to pay. He believes previous tenants didn't want to pay either, and probably everything in the house that's needed repair didn't get attention and will fall on him.
I told him I believe it will eventually come out of his deposit.

My question is, is it not the LL's responsibility to repair items included in the rental home?

Thanks.

 

[Cvillecpm]

Not if it is in the lease....you son should not have signed such a lease....he needs to re-connect DW when he leaves * or he can report the situation to the landlord and send landlord a check for $45

 

[JETX]

is it not the LL's responsibility to repair items included in the rental home?

Yes, but in this case, not the first $45 since your son already accepted liability for it. BTW, this is a fairly common provision in most leases, to protect the landlord from damages by tenants... and frivolous complaints from tenants.

And if he simply "re-connects DW when he leaves" (as suggested by one of the forum nitwits) and the landlord determines it is not working when he leaves, there is a good chance that the landlord will hit him for the FULL repair cost.

 

[Alaska landlord]

Think about it, if the landlord has evidence that your son has been in there tampering with the wires, then there is an excellent chance he may be stuck with the entire bill. He needs to replace the wiring just the way he found them and call the landlord about scheduling the repair. Personally I feel that provision created more problems than it solves for the reasons you cited. Tenants don’t want to fork out the first few dollars and hide inexpensive maintenance issues that will in time become costly.
It is better to provide minimal landlord appliances and have the tenant supply anything more than refrigerator and stove. Best without those two..