Tenant Broke Garage Door

Tenant always drives fast into the garage and quickly lowers the door he used the remote to open the garage door drove in quick lowered the door on his car damaged my garge door bent the bottom section.

Tenant broke garage door.

Dents in a door is not wear and tear it is damage. Old parts break t. He signe a newlease for another year starting oct 1. Now i need to have the one section replaced.

I m guessing it would be the same anywhere in th u s if is a result of normal wear and tear then no you would not be responsible e g. If the tenant moved in with and door which was whole and broke the frame and dented the door then i think the tenant should have to replace the door and the frame. The garage door s malfunction could be a safety issue in the event of a fire preventing access into and out of the garage. For example if a tenant falls and breaks his ankle on a broken front door step the landlord will be liable if the tenant can show all of the following.

If your repair issue is potentially difficult or costly and isn t an obvious landlord responsibility check your state laws for more clarity. I think that maybe the tenant should have to pay for the door less a few years depreciation. The amount the tenant deducts for the repair cannot exceed one month s rent. From what you have written it appears that the landlord is responsible for replacing the broken garage in the rental that you have since he initiated repairs by replacing the switch to it after he was advised of problems.

Some states such as washington take things farther noting that a landlord cannot legally make the tenants responsible for any repairs except when the tenant or their guests caused the damage. It was the landlord s responsibility to maintain the steps this would usually be the case because the steps are part of the common area which is the landlord s responsibility. If the landlord does not respond and address the repair the tenant can have the work done. Tenant is refusing to pay for the repair.

The tenant must first notify the tenant of the needed repair either verbally or in writing.