In most states, it is the landlord's responsibility to make sure that repairs are handled in a reasonable time.  On many occasions, we have had tenants offer to make repairs.  Initially, it sounds like a great idea.  Who wouldn't want to save some additional money by allowing a tenant to make repairs if they are handy? The landlord saves money and the tenant does work around the house and gets a rent reduction.  It's a win-win for the landlord and tenant, right?  WRONG!

Unless a tenant is actually a certified and licensed handyman for a living, the quality of the repair is never quite as professional and honestly, the tenant may actually cause more damage than they fix.

Then you have the problem of determining who's responsible to pay for what. Will the landlord pay for the supplies and parts needed or will the tenant pay for them along with labor?  And if the tenant pays for the tools needed to make a specific repair and gets a rent reduction based on the cost of those tools, does the landlord own those supplies?  And, of course, if the tools belong to the landlord, shouldn't you also write that up in an addendum to the contract, even if just for something as small as a hammer and nails or a screwdriver?

And finally, landlords should consider the possibility of a tenant injuring themselves while making that repair.  If the tenant is a licensed handyman, do they carry enough insurance to cover injuries?  Will the landlord's liability policy cover the losses if the tenant wasn't an employee?  Is it worth the legal fees and time to figure that out once an injury occurs?

For these very reasons, we always recommend that an approved vendor make repairs at a rental property that we manage.  Our office annually checks licenses and insurance information from all our approved vendors, allowing our landlords and tenants to have peace of mind as to the quality and workmanship of the professionals we are sending out to maintain the properties on their behalf.  As a landlord, you can feel comfortable knowing that we at The Bhalla Group will help maintain the quality of your property even while a tenant is in place.