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Posted by Alan McClendon on December 25, 1996 at 00:23:20:

In Reply to: Re: Water Damage - wants us to pay for it ! posted by TenantNet on December 24, 1996 at 17:52:05:

: You don't say where you are located and all states differ, but we can give
: you our general impression. Don't pay the bill, period. [and when you leave,
: you might wish to anticipate they will try to deduct it from your security
: deposit, so what some tenants do is not pay the last month's rent -- which
: puts the shoe on the other foot. This may be against the provisions of the
: lease and may allow the owner to come after you, but you would be in a position
: of strength against any of their claims].

: As for the bill, do they list specific damages to the unit or other tenants'
: possessions? If the latter, check with those tenants -- and I would think
: the tenants themselves would have to make the claim. Can they prove you caused
: the leak? Apparently you have an alibi in that you weren't home. For them
: to say "you must have caused it as we cannot find the source" is wholly
: insufficient. Aside from specific damages (which usually are not a rounded
: number), the cost of repairmen is in all likelihood not your responsibility.
: That's what you pay rent for.

THANKS for the reply. I am in Georgia, by the way. No, they cannot prove we
caused anything. Frankly I am stumped too. But, I was stumped with at least two other leaks
here, but apparently the previous leaks caused minimal damage to their pocketbooks.

I had a good renters policy with only a $100 deductible, and I called State Farm
to ask what to do when the manager sent us the first bill. When I explained that
I wasn't even home, and that I did nothing to cause the water leakage, the claim
rep. told me that I wasn't liable and neither was State Farm. I didn't recontact the Ins.
Co. when the second bill arrived a year or so later.

We have been here six years - and we just got "this years" bill. I think that
they want to keep us "happy", but continue to quietly leave a bill on our door
handle once a year or so as a reminder.

I have done nothing exept ignore the bills. I hate confrontation, and do not look
forward to confronting the manager if it comes to that.

Any additional help is appreciated.

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Comments:

: : You don't say where you are located and all states differ, but we can give
: : you our general impression. Don't pay the bill, period. [and when you leave,
: : you might wish to anticipate they will try to deduct it from your security
: : deposit, so what some tenants do is not pay the last month's rent -- which
: : puts the shoe on the other foot. This may be against the provisions of the
: : lease and may allow the owner to come after you, but you would be in a position
: : of strength against any of their claims].

: : As for the bill, do they list specific damages to the unit or other tenants'
: : possessions? If the latter, check with those tenants -- and I would think
: : the tenants themselves would have to make the claim. Can they prove you caused 
: : the leak? Apparently you have an alibi in that you weren't home. For them
: : to say "you must have caused it as we cannot find the source" is wholly
: : insufficient. Aside from specific damages (which usually are not a rounded
: : number), the cost of repairmen is in all likelihood not your responsibility.
: : That's what you pay rent for.

: THANKS for the reply.  I am in Georgia, by the way.  No, they cannot prove we 
: caused anything.  Frankly I am stumped too.  But, I was stumped with at least two other leaks 
: here, but apparently the previous leaks caused minimal damage to their pocketbooks.

: I had a good renters policy with only a $100 deductible, and I called State Farm
: to ask what to do when the manager sent us the first bill.  When I explained that
: I wasn't even home, and that I did nothing to cause the water leakage, the claim
: rep. told me that I wasn't liable and neither was State Farm.  I didn't recontact the Ins.
: Co. when the second bill arrived a year or so later.

: We have been here six years - and we just got "this years" bill.  I think that
: they want to keep us "happy", but continue to quietly leave a bill on our door
: handle once a year or so as a reminder.

: I have done nothing exept ignore the bills.  I hate confrontation, and do not look 
: forward to confronting the manager if it comes to that.

: Any additional help is appreciated.



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