Damage to garbage disposal

[legalese]

Conn.

The tenants told me the garbage disposal is broken, the lease just says that the tenants are not to do damage to appliances. I can replace the disposal but who should pay for it? The disposal is about 15 years old so who knows why it broke. They have been there for 7 years now

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

 

[sandyclaus]

Conn.

The tenants told me the garbage disposal is broken, the lease just says that the tenants are not to do damage to appliances. I can replace the disposal but who should pay for it? The disposal is about 15 years old so who knows why it broke. They have been there for 7 years now

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

I'd venture a guess that YOU will end up paying for it.

Given the fact that the disposal is 15 years old, it's HIGHLY LIKELY the thing was old and just finally gave out.

Even if you can prove definitively that the tenants actually caused the garbage disposal to break, you cannot charge them for it's replacement value, you would only be able to charge them for the DEPRECIATED value of the disposal. My guess would be that a 15-year-old garbage disposal is pretty much past its prime and not worth a whole lot anyway.

 

[swalsh411]

Unless you can prove the tentants intentionally damaged it, you need to replace it. 15 years out of a garbage disposal sounds reasonable to me. Or did you think these last forever?

 

[xylene]

Conn.

The tenants told me the garbage disposal is broken, the lease just says that the tenants are not to do damage to appliances. I can replace the disposal but who should pay for it? The disposal is about 15 years old so who knows why it broke. They have been there for 7 years now

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

Please don't confuse ordinary wear and tear with intentional damage.

You clearly need to install a new disposal at your expense.

1/2 Horsepower continuous feed disposals of good brands like Whirlpool are available for around 75 dollars.

They are quite easy to install if you are at all handy, or a place like Home Depot could do it for 59 or so...

 

[HomeGuru]

I agree with all the responses.

 

[Who's Liable?]

I agree with all the responses.

I concur.

It would be hard to determine negligence since GD are built to withstand a lot of abuse during normal operation. Plus 15 years is very good.

 

[ecmst12]

Not to mention it's not worth damaging the relationship with long-term tenants if there are otherwise no problems.

 

[aabbcc]

15 year old garbage disposal.
Tenants there 7 years.

If the tenants were abusing the disposal, it would have broke long before 7 years.

It's just worn out. You should replace and pay for it.

 

[Searchertwin]

Not to mention it's not worth damaging the relationship with long-term tenants if there are otherwise no problems.

I agree. I have tenants that been with me for years. I have replaced alot that should have been theirs to pay, but like this, the amount is less than $100.00. I much rather pay than lose them and gain tenants from XXXX.