Can my landlord have a third party bill me for repairs?
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Can my landlord have a third party bill me for repairs?
I broke the glass out of my front door, slamming it trying to get the dead bolt to engage that “he” installed about a year ago. It has never worked properly and he was not happy with it, but the door is 100+ years old. I couldn’t use the back without wading through mud, which he knows. I advised what happened and that it would be fixed by the weekend. His wife offered to have someone come in and give me an est to fix. I came home and the door was fixed and a $165bill was on my dining room table.
Asked on March 5, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Ohio
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
From what you have written, it seems as though that since you broke the glass on the front door of the unit you are renting and the landlord had a third party fix the damage, the third party who made the repairs can leave a bill for you and expect that you pay it.
I suggest that you carefully read the presumed written lease that you have with your landlord. Most likely there is a provision within it regarding repairs and whose responsibility the repairs will be.
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