Hi All,

Can please advise who pays for the aircond service in a rented unit?
Tenant or Owner?

Thanks!

No rules for such things..Its depend on tenant and owner nego..

Of course is tenant. Owner don't use the aircond.

I think it depends ... Last time my owner arrange his own aircon guy to come & do the service and he paid for it

Yea depends lor if the owner is stingy then probably wont pay..

Ts, you owner or tenant? You rented a room out, rent a room from owner or whole unit? Funny questions u had...

I am owner. Very gray line...

depends on your negotiations with the tenant. what did you put in the tenancy agreement?

Let me give you another one.

Ceiling fan.
Who should be cleaning the dusty ceiling fan?
Owner or the tenant?

P/S TS, is your unit advertised as "fully furnished" unit?
Are you charging the rate of "fully furnished" unit?
If yes, you are responsible to make sure each and every electrical appliance is running in good order.

This post has been edited by ALeUNe: Sep 26 2011, 10:37 AM

Correct! But are u stingy?

Anyhow, in my opinion, if you rent the whole house out and u know the tenant is a "family" then usually they will kao tim by themself.
Just that maybe piping/toilet problem only bear by owner.

If rent room to students then dont be stingy lor....

usually it is the tenant; unless stated in the tenancy agreement

then it should be the tenant... check back what is in your tenancy agreement... it should be stated there...

Normally tenancy agreement does not state who is responsible for the maintenance of the aircon gas. It's all down to Owner & Tenant.
Some Owners will just pay for the aircon maintenance. Others will not be bothered as they claimed that since the Tenant is using, then they shall be responsible.
Anyway, it does not cost much for the aircon service.
Just give & take loh..

Good question. For the aircond to keep performing, it needs the maintenance of gas refill right? Like someone said earlier I believe its responsibility of the owners, since you're renting it out as fully furnished and the facilities are just 'used' by the tenants.

If the washing machine spoils or microwave spoil, its the owners responsibility to replace/repair. Same thing I guess. My case, aircond in my tenants had leaking problem but this was quite clearcut its my problem since they had just moved in. They're paying you for staying and for maintaining the place they stay afterall.

yah, air cond gas filling is just less than rm100

most air con contractors will ask u to buy a new unit even though the old unit is not rosak or can repair easily. my air con fren told me that they usually resell the old unit as 2nd hand unit. (eg to internet cafe etc). usually the owner do not want the "rosak" air con, so they get it for free. so they untung form both new and old air con. taht is why u see many ad say free air con checking or gas refill oni rm100 etc. they just want to trap u...

Rightfully, owner to bear the cost of servicing since the cost of rental are taken into consideration of fully furnished.

I have never charge my tenant.

Usually I will ask my contractor to do it, then charge to my tenant. My tenant will deduct from the next rental payment.

Give a mutual understanding between tenant and you.
Tel the tenant verbally even it is not written.
If it is a fully furnished unit, give the tenant 1/2 week upfront to check with all the wear and tear items.

Wear and tear: electric appliance, tv, fridge, washing machine, kitchen appliance, etc.
If found out faulty within the set period, owner replace. If faulty after period, regardless 2 month-expire of TA, then seek for professional to conduct search on the faulty item. If is due to unforeseen faulty, owner replace. If damage by tenant example drop, smack, etc, tenant replace.

Wear and tear: lights, air con service due to non-satisfy coldness after promised period:
Tenant should bare the cost.
However if gas leaking due to non-damaged by tenant, then owner should bare.

Hard-fixed items:
- leakage
- termite, rats, ants etc
- piping
- electric short circuit
All bare by owner.

This is very subjective thou. Sometimes for hi end property especially condo, and the tenant is expatriate, whereby cleaning services of 2 weeks is provided, all faulty item bare by owner. But if this is the case, it is better to be written in TA to avoid misunderstanding. All included in the rental. Or charge 10% higher than the default rental if tenant want this kind of service.
If u hired an agent, if the agent is good, he/she will handle everything for u, some for free some for premium charge.

Personally, I factor in all the service and maintenance in my rental. Your reputation will be damaged by being stingy. For airconditioned units, my tenants are normally from the O&G frat and your reputation will be mentioned in their weekly drinking session outings. If an owner learns to be stingy to their tenants, it is only a matter of time, their tenants will catch up and be stingy to the owners. Even plates and cups, I don't mind changing them after every 6 months. Quilts and pillows after every 12 months. Put simply, why do you think there is a difference between Tune Hotel and Four Seasons?

When Tennant first moved in is your responsible get aircond service. After or second time aircond service Tenant should paid.