Question - 2 family home

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angnick
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Angela

Question - 2 family home

Dh and I own a 2 family home and we have new tenants moving in today.

in addition to renting the first floor, they are renting the basement as well. It is an unfinished basement, mainly used for storage and has a washer/dryer.

The tenant asked if it was possible to install an outlet down there as she has something that she wants to plug in.

There is one out let down there, but it is in the boiler room, not in the room she needs it in.

Question: As a landlord, would you incur this cost as it is your home, or would you tell the tenant that if they want the outlet they should call an electrician and have one installed at there own cost?

Thanks!

Posted 1/2/08 9:26 AM

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PotofLuck06
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Betsy

Re: Question - 2 family home

I would ask the tenant what she wants the plug for.

Are you paying the electric bill, or are they?

Posted 1/2/08 9:28 AM

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angnick
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Angela

Re: Question - 2 family home

Posted by PotofLuck06

I would ask the tenant what she wants the plug for.

Are you paying the electric bill, or are they?

it is for a freezer ( an extra one)

They pay electric and gas & heat

Posted 1/2/08 9:30 AM

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PotofLuck06
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Re: Question - 2 family home

Posted by angnick

Posted by PotofLuck06

I would ask the tenant what she wants the plug for.

Are you paying the electric bill, or are they?

it is for a freezer ( an extra one)

They pay electric and gas & heat

Then I would say the landlord pays for the installation, so you know it's done up to code and correctly for your own resale purposes down the road.

And since they pay the electric bill, they will incur the cost of running it.

Posted 1/2/08 9:34 AM

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bikramaddict
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Re: Question - 2 family home

Angela - how about splitting the cost w/them?

I asked my landlord to install an extra outlet in my last apt and he paid for it in full. (I was responsible for the LIPA bill.)

Posted 1/2/08 9:46 AM

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alnem
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Re: Question - 2 family home

Posted by PotofLuck06

Posted by angnick

Posted by PotofLuck06

I would ask the tenant what she wants the plug for.

Are you paying the electric bill, or are they?

it is for a freezer ( an extra one)

They pay electric and gas & heat

Then I would say the landlord pays for the installation, so you know it's done up to code and correctly for your own resale purposes down the road.

And since they pay the electric bill, they will incur the cost of running it.

i agree with betsy. its not all that expensive to have done and i would want to know that it was done properly.

Posted 1/2/08 10:40 AM

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Christine
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Re: Question - 2 family home

I think that's a landlord expense. When they move out, you will still have that extra outlet. Plus I think it's in your best interest to know it's done correctly by a licensed electrician.

Posted 1/2/08 10:53 AM

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CunningOne
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Re: Question - 2 family home

I would install it, as the landlord.

Posted 1/2/08 11:05 AM

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angnick
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Angela

Re: Question - 2 family home

Thanks ladies!

Posted 1/2/08 11:18 AM

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Goobster
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Re: Question - 2 family home

Posted by Christine

I think that's a landlord expense. When they move out, you will still have that extra outlet. Plus I think it's in your best interest to know it's done correctly by a licensed electrician.

I totally agree, but it has to be installed under their electricity. I think you as the homeowner, should pay IF you want to allow them.

If you don't want to allow them to do it or don't want to pay, then the answer is just no.

Posted 1/2/08 3:37 PM

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Kara
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Re: Question - 2 family home

Posted by Goobster

Posted by Christine

I think that's a landlord expense. When they move out, you will still have that extra outlet. Plus I think it's in your best interest to know it's done correctly by a licensed electrician.

I totally agree, but it has to be installed under their electricity. I think you as the homeowner, should pay IF you want to allow them.

If you don't want to allow them to do it or don't want to pay, then the answer is just no.

I totally agree with Goobster here. If you don't want to allow them to do that or don't want to incur the expense to do that, then just tell them they can't do it.

HOWEVER, you'll also want to make sure they don't then take it upon themselves to use an extension cord to plug the freezer into a different outlet. (Extension cords are NOT to be used continually. They are designed for periodic use - to be used, then put away immediately afterward, not to be plugged in for extended periods)

I don't think it's terribly expensive to have an outlet put in, though, especially if it can be run off the other outlet down there. However, be sure to ask the electrician if he'll have to make cuts in the walls and where. We just had an outlet put in so we could mount our microwave. I don't have the exact price (we had a ton of other work done, too), but I know it was't that expensive.

Posted 1/2/08 4:06 PM

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