We have a tenant since December who keeps the heat (boiler system) cranked up and likes it HOT but runs around in a robe or something summer like (very typical so I've noticed)

When she and her adult son first moved in, we caught them running space heaters over extension cords. We warned them against doing this as a fire hazard. My husband has little patience for this sort of thing so read them the riot act and it is also in their rental agreement renewal. Well we had another cold snap here an sure enough we got a call that the "outlet went out in the son's room"

This is a duplex with 100 amp brand new service for up and for down. Total of 200 amp. We have not up to this point allowed the tenants to have access to the basement where the circuit breakers are as my husband is against this.

I should also add that my husband is a certified electrician so he knows what he is doing when it comes to wiring and electrical circuits, which we totally revamped before renting out the place.

Evict them before they burn your place down.

People like this DO NOT CARE what you say. They will do what they want.

Well because of the climate here (eviction moratoriums out the wazoo and further restrictions on landlords) I am hesitant just yet to do so. She will be on a month 2 month as of June 1st.

I wanted to see if this happens over the summer; any A/C window units that need to be installed will be done by my husband so it will be done properly (electrical load, etc)

MAP, I say this kindly and gently.... you're making excuses for her.

"She does pay rent faithfully and keeps the place tidy, doesn't make noise for the other tenants, etc."

Irrelevant. She's putting your entire building at risk running space heaters on extension cords. She either stops immediately, or she's gone. This is a dangerous situation and must not be allowed to proceed. A burned out shell of a house, dead tenants, and wrongful death lawsuits are nothing you want, but that's what you're risking every day.

I would issue notice of non-renewal effective immediately when their lease runs out. No M2M renewals. Gone. Bye. Summer is an easy time to find new renters who will listen and not do dangerous things.

Many good points already made. I just have two thoughts to add.

They are the only ones inconvenienced when they blow a fuse by doing this. So, let them be inconvenienced. You certainly don't need to "rush" over there to reset the circuit breaker. Get around to it eventually and in the meantime they can experience just a little bit of a natural consequence for their behavior.

Tenants should always have access to reset their breakers! Second I would map out the electrical outlets and lights throughout the duplex. In my buildings there are outlets on every wall in every room. However half of the breakers in a room are on a separate breaker and the other half of the outlets in each room are shared with another room. Therefore a tenant can plug in a vacuum, air conditioner, space heater or other heave consuming item and trip a breaker.

Are you against space heaters because you don't want to pay for the electricity or because you are afraid they are a fire hazard?

I wouldn't really worry about a fire hazard. Modern space heaters have all kinds of anti-tip and other safety features.

Are you against space heaters because you don't want to pay for the electricity or because you are afraid they are a fire hazard?

I wouldn't really worry about a fire hazard. Modern space heaters have all kinds of anti-tip and other safety features.

No space heaters is definitely in the rental agreement. Husband runs an HVAC company; boiler is brand new and we at first bought some space heaters in case we ran into an emergency no heat with one of our customers. We talked to our insurance company and they in no uncertain terms said to nix the lending of space heaters as it would not be covered under our liability insurance.

I had tenants from South Carolina who were even stupider. They decided the electric baseboard was too expensive and started using space heaters on extension cords. The male also charged up a handheld inverter/battery rated at 600W(what a joke, at 600W he would get about 30 seconds of power) and he plugged 7 oil filled space heaters into the inverter because ...well..it had 7 outlets! His inverter blew up and he wanted to blame my outlet. I went over and tripped over extension cords everywhere. I gave them 30 days notice, and put a space heater clause into my Lease ever afterwards. Only one space heater at a time and it never is to be placed on an extension cord or share a circuit. It must not be left unattended. No combustible kerosene or LP heaters ever.

Larry the oil filled radiator heaters pull 750W on low and 1500W on high with the rheostat on full. !500W is 12.5amps and nearly uses up a 15amp circuit. If you have any doubts how dangerous they can be, the local fire department can demonstrate with an infrared sensor how hot the wires get in your walls with an electric space heater. It is downright scary.

Larry is not about the space heaters is about them being on extension cords.

Lana - It appears you got some of the Red N..ks from SC. Please keep them in your state. We don't need them. They are the worst. Take my advice - the stupidity will not end - do yourself a favor and get rid of them ASAP.