Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Tennessee

I work for an overnight cabin rental company that manages properties for property owners in East Tennessee. A guest that rented the property for one week in January broke three interior doors and they had to be custom ordered to be replaced. They were just installed this week, four months after the stay. Though the rental contract states the renter agrees to indemnify the rental company and property owner of any damages that may arise from damages done by the renter, is it too late to try to seek reimbursement for the cost of the door replacement?


Asked on 5/15/10, 3:30 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Caitlin Moon C2Law

Without reviewing the contract, I can't say with certainty that the renter would (or would not) be responsible for this damage. Was the renter informed of his/her obligation at the time the damage occurred? If the agreement is clear in that it is the renter's legal obligation to pay for the repairs, then you can attempt to collect this amount.

For future reference, the agreement should be very clear regarding this responsibility. Further, in any instance where damage occurs, you should give the renter immediate notice of his/her obligation to pay for repairs along with estimated repair cost information.

You can sue to enforce the contractual obligation in the general sessions court in the county where the property is located, if the amount sought is $15,000 or less.

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Answered on 5/20/10, 3:43 pm


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