Tenant Damage Repairs Question?
Need advice: What's the best way to handle tenant damage repairs? Do you include your own personal labor charges in any self-repairs? I'm dealing with a section 8 tenant and a couple of broken windows. It's inspection time...you know the drill! This is really my first problem with this tenant. The government checks have been nice.
Please send advice on warning letters, payment collection, timeframe, etc. Thanks. 
What do your landlord-tenant laws say on this subject. In one area where I have rental property, the landlord-tenant law only allows me to charge actual out of pocket costs for repairs due to tenant abuse.
If I contract out the work, I can charge the amount of the contractor's invoice. If I do the work myself, I can only recover the cost of materials -- my personal time and labor is contributed free of charge.
i have a section 8 tenant in my property. here is a nice trick. tell them you will go half with them to do the repairs, but keep the receipt. you can then write off the full cost. just a trick to get paid for your time.
[addsig]
I believe most states do not allow you to deduct labor charges for yourself. YOu may deduct supplies for repairs, and labor for others, but not for self. Too bad!
The subject seems pretty well covered but I would add that the Federal gov't also does not recognize personal labor as deductible.
[ Edited by DaveT on Date 11/04/2003 ]