Question about Repair clause in new lease- should I seek clarification? (tenant, house)

[mortey]

I found a great new place to rent and they accepted our application (woot!) so they sent over the leasing document. I found this section on repairs and was curious what I should think of it:

Repairs

A. Lessee shall make all repairs on the Property, except where repairs are

necessitated by structural damage, after advising Lessor of the necessity for such

repairs. Lessor shall reimburse prospective Lessee for the costs of all material required

by the repairs made by Lessee, unless Lessee is the cause of the need for such repairs.

B. Lessor shall be responsible for making all structural repairs at his own expense.

Does that mean that I pay for all repairs that are not structural? Do I pay if a appliance has issues, furnace has issues, paint falling, etc? I could be reading it totally wrong but it seems like only the Lessor (them) would be responsible to pay me back for any materials used for structural issues, not labor?

Or is it I would hire someone to fix issues and me reimbursed unless the issue was structural?

Thanks for the clarification/help!

[STT Resident]

It's poorly written (maybe intentionally!) and I wouldn't sign it without clarification and written modifications. As you've noted, the exclusion of reimbursement for labor costs is particularly troublesome when they more often than not add up to way more than the cost of the materials involved. It's also rather unusual that a LL would rely on a tenant finding a contractor to make repairs rather than using his own who he knows and trusts.

Don't agree to this, and do come back with an update!

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by mortey

I found this section on repairs and was curious what I should think of it:

I reads like it's meant for a commercial property.
I'd strike it out entirely before signing a resi lease with it.

[CarlitosBala]

I would never agree to anything that sounds even remotely close to that.

Now, if I could get some sucker to sign a clause like that, I would make a small addition..

C. Lessor hereby assumes responsibility to pay for Lessee's Student Loans in full.

[momtothree]

The most responsible for repair for us was paying the $50 call fee that the home warranty charged. If there was a charge beyond that, the landlord paid it. I accepted that as the rent was really cheap and the house was in great shape. Ended up not having to call at all during the lease term so that was a moot point.

But I would never sign anything where I would be responsible for non structural repairs AND in charge of repairing structural repairs but not for labor? That's a crock of ...well...crap!

Definitely ask for clarification and write the explanation in there if it's to your liking and both you and the landlord to initial off on it.

[mortey]

Thanks for all your opinions thus far and I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it is weird. I have emailed the land lord for clarification. I think it was just a form they found online and used it. They seem to be good, honest people and are not sure how to go about renting. I want it all written out to make it absolutely clear.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by mortey

They seem to be good, honest people and are not sure how to go about renting.

This is amazingly and even scarily common.

Had they come here first...
someone would have advised them to SELL rather than start.

[STT Resident]

Originally Posted by momtothree

But I would never sign anything where I would be responsible for non structural repairs AND in charge of repairing structural repairs but not for labor?

Not what it says. LessOR is the landlord, lessEE is the tenant.

[Lacerta]

As a landlord, I would never expect a tenant to agree to this clause as written. It is ridiculous.

[Mr_Geek]

Not in a million years would a sane person sign that.