'The landlord is very upset': Landlord insists engineer tenant fix their own appliances without realizing how much the tenant is billing him

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Nov 5, 2023 11:00 AM EST

You can't expect the average person to know how to fix large household appliances. If your washer or dryer breaks, it's not exactly recommended that you start taking the thing apart to discover the issue. Most of us don't have the capacity to fix a refrigerator or a stove either---there are some things you just leave to the professionals. 

That's why it's so odd that u/nopanicprepper's landlord decided that when appliances break, their tenants are the perfect people to fix them. The poor OP had not one, but two, of their major appliances break down after some plumbing issues. They don't say which machines they were, but large appliances like the ones mentioned above are pretty crucial to a lot of people. Instead of taking the tenant's issues seriously, this landlord was out of the state, where the problem could be easily avoided. Turning a blind eye to a tenant in need wasn't very nice…the landlord will certainly remember that for next time! 

Scroll down to read the OP's story of how they single-handedly repaired their home. Up next, this workplace was fed up with telemarketers who wouldn't take no for an answer---until one employee decided to invite the marketers to the office, while he was wearing the wildest costume. 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 9832927232
    via u/
  • 02
    Landlord tried to exploit me for free labor. M OC I am renting a little house out past the suburbs of the city I am currently working in. It is a little old and the appliances are a bit dated, but it was much cheaper than a two bedroom apartment downtown and I move around every couple of years for work.
    via u/nopanicprepper
  • 03
    My landlord lives out of state and doesn't have anyone local, so for the past year and a half I haven't talked to anyone. Just pay my rent on time and keep doing my thing. About 4 months ago plumbing issues started popping up and two major appliances decided to give up the ghost. I notified my
    via u/nopanicprepper
  • 04
    landlord via email and written letter (I rent a lot and have learned to abide by the exact wording in a lease). After several follow up emails and phone calls a local handy man showed up to look at everything and provide a quote.
    via u/nopanicprepper
  • 05
    After receiving the quote for parts plus labor the landlord told me flat out that they will not be paying for the repairs. They said that since I am an engineer, they would allow me to purchase parts, install them and then deduct the cost of the repairs from my rent payment. They said it was either this or "learn to make do". I was not super thrilled at this response.
    via u/nopanicprepper
  • 06
    I replied back to them saying if they were willing to deduct my time and cost of the parts from my rent that I would get started immediately, thank you very much! They were thrilled to hear it and asked me to send receipts for their records when everything is finished. Great! Now to put together all the pieces and get to work.
    via u/nopanicprepper
  • 07
    The first step was to file for an LLC with my current state. Next, I set up some cameras and borrowed a GoPro from one of my hiking mates. I was able to document all the repair process, from me watching YouTube videos of how to do things to me making multiple runs to the part store to get that piece I didn't know I needed. Here is the kicker. At my day job I make over $50 dollars an hour, that is what my time is valued at.
    via u/nopanicprepper
  • 08
    The final bill for everything has worked out to be a about 12% higher than the quoted cost and the landlord is very upset, but my lawyer added to the email chain has kept them very civil.
    via u/nopanicprepper
  • 09
    Occasional-Human Does your landlord know what kind of engineer you work as? I mean, an EE is as good as a sound engineer at plumbing and HVAC stuff. :-) Not to downplay sound engineers at all, they know plenty about acoustics that I never will!
    via u/Occasional-Human
  • 10
    nopanicprepper OP. I think I gave them my current job title on the rental application: Principal Software Engineer.
    via u/nopanicprepper
  • 11
    Mad RocketScientist74 Always confirm the tenants hourly rate, some of us get paid very well.
    via u/Mad RocketScientist74
  • 12
    erichwanh They said that since I am an engineer Oh dear, hahaha. They must not have truly been familiar with how engineers handle things.
    via u/erichwanh
  • 13
    dsdvbguutres I know some landlords do not rent to lawyers, now this guy won't ever rent to engineers either!
    via u/dsdvbguutres
  • 14
    MattInSoCal My hourly compensation is pretty high but is mid- market rate around these parts. My burden cost to my company is in the area of $200/hour (that's including their share of taxes, insurance, & cetera). That's about what I charge for my consulting rate too. You undercharged your landlord quite significantly.
    via u/MattInSoCal
  • 15
    DrDerpberg You came in 12% over the bid including learning how to do it yourself on YouTube and doing it legally, and paying yourself a fair wage? I'm impressed.
    via u/DrDerpberg
  • 16
    jknapp63 He got off cheap if you only billed him at $50 an hour. I would have charged atleast $150 an hour.
    via u/jknapp63

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suburbs landlord housing malicious compliance house fixing malicious-compliance-reddit plumbing landlords appliance broken DIY malicious compliance reddit home Renters
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