who is responsible for frozen pipes

in the apartment I rent the pipes froze I had the oil company come to make sure it wasn't the furnace shutting off the furnace did not shut off. the man from the oil company said it is most likely because of the air conditioner which is in the double hung window in one bedroom in the apartment . (I told the tenant months ago that they need to take the air conditioner out ) now the pipes are frozen and plumber has to come which is going to cost me hundreds of dollars . Who is responsible to pay? me or the tenants when it's their fault because cold air was blowing in onto the baseboard which caused the pipes to freeze as of the oil guy and the plumber told me thatd the reason. bTW this will be the second time they cause me problems last winter they had all the stuff piled up against the radiator so not hot air could not rise and that frozen pipes too I am so sick of them. Thanks

Re: who is responsible for frozen pipes

I would expect the land lord to cover

who is responsible for frozen pipes

Do you have a written lease agreement that addresses home repairs and outlines who is responsible in X situations?

it's easy to throw the responsibility at the landlord but if the renters are at fault yet again by their own doing...I'd be apt to have them pay.

Message edited 1/22/2016 6:50:34 PM.

who is responsible for frozen pipes

Unless you have something in writing, the landlord is responsible IMO

who is responsible for frozen pipes

I would expect the landlord to pay. But, I can see how, if you put in writing a warning to remove the aircondirioner with the possible repercussions being frozen pipes which would need to be repaired at their expense, then it would be on them.

Re: who is responsible for frozen pipes

Landlord, unless like above poster said there were written warning about the AC.

who is responsible for frozen pipes

The landlord. I would have continued to remind the tenant to remove until it was done.

who is responsible for frozen pipes

Landlord. Make sure its written into the lease going forward.

Re: who is responsible for frozen pipes

Landlord pays. You *might* have a case if you have letters - in writing - to your tenants about removing the window a/c. But then you're talking about possibly having to sue them.

Sounds like you need new tenants. And in the new lease, you must specify that the window a/cc has to be removed before winter. And anything else that they should be responsible for.