A female tenant, mid-40's had a boy friend. He never lived in the rental unit. They broke up several months ago.?

She is not liable for this damage/cleanup unless she pulled the trigger. Your deductible is just a cost of doing business.

Are you saying that you are holding your tenant responsible for the clean up?

She decided several months, as you indicated in your statement that, that she broke up with this individual and had not other contact with this individual.

You are not able to hold your tenant for the actions of another. She is not responsible for her former boyfriend decision to commit suicide on her door step she was renting from you.

You are required to return her deposit minus any damages you find in her rental unit.

Since you were required to pay this deductible for work done on your rental unit, you should be able to deduct this $1000 from your federal income tax. You should consult with your tax preparer or CPA.

In legal and tax matters you should always consult your attorney and tax preparer or CPA.

I hope this has been of some benefit to you, good luck.

"FIGHT ON"

As everyone else has already said, you cannot charge your tenant for your insurance deductible.

However, the good news is that it is a deduction against your rental income that you can claim on your income taxes.

Unless you can prove she deliberately drove him to suicide on your door, in what way would she be responsible for the actions of another person? No court would find in your favor because someone she knew took their own life nearby.

Don't charge her, don't try to deduct the cleaning cost. I know it sucks, but . . . c'est la vie, I'm afraid.

The tenant is in no way responsible for the clean up. You cannot deduct it. You would never win in court if she pursued it (which she undoubtedly would).

You could, in theory, bill the boyfriend's estate for the cost of cleaning up his mess. The executor/administrator would be appalled, but would have little choice but to pay.

Or, you can chalk it up to cost of doing business and thank your lucky stars it wasn't worse.

That isn't her fault and you would lose in court. She didn't invite this person over to commit suicide and damage your property, it wasn't her fault. Yes, he never would have come if she wasn't there, but again, not her fault. I keep saying fault because in court, she would not be liable for these damages.

I am sorry you had to eat that $1,000; but you would lose in court AND put yourself in this person's shoes.

They broke up several months ago. He was not her "guest." How would she be responsible?

what a scumbag you are, may you get many fake references and bad tenants in the future

Not her fault & you would lose in court.