Updating wording in Rental Agreement. Is "frivolous" the best word?

" If it is found that the reason for the repair request was frivolous, Tenant will pay Landlord a trip fee of $50 or the actual coat, whichever is more. (Frivolous means there is nothing malfunctioning, and it was within Tenant's ability to rectify the situation, such as: GFCI circuit or circuit breaker tripped, something was unplugged or batteries removed, dirty air filter, etc.) "

Maybe something like “failure to follow landlord’s troubleshooting recommendations will result in tenant’s responsibility for the repair” or some rendition like that.

We've used Frivolous for 30 yrs.

It describes waste of time to me.

Problem: call to LL-- no hot water!!!! send MM and he finds gas locked off. FOR NO Pay>.....

Bill is $45.00 for the half hour and 25.00 each additional half. FRIVIOUSLOUS!!!!!!!

and of all these NAMES what one will stick with them?

Dirty air filter- tenants aren't comfortable mucking about in equipment they don't own. And, for good reason. Maybe hiring a handyma'am to do quarterly maintenance visits can help sort some of these out, without risking tenants being reluctant to tell when something is not working right.

I've had all of my furnaces' thermostats wired so they run off the electricity of the furnace. Batteries gone bad no longer a concern, at least for heat.

There is always that balance between oh, this is frivolous and, why didn't you tell me? This. Is a tricky subject.

Oh, I also think frivolous is the correct term to use, IF one is going to have a fee for annoyance calls.

I know I don't have the experience that most on here have, but a lot of you are asking for your tenants to not let you know when something is wrong.

Why would you have a service charge when part of renting is fixing things when needed?

Isn't that already figured into the rent rate?

All these extra fees are BS and cause tenants to not tell you anything but tell the "rights groups" plenty.

I do understand getting nonsense calls for things is annoying, but not everyone wired the same. Some are just young and inexperienced as well. Maybe put some examples in a "welcome home binder" as what to check if such and such happens?

As far as the "proper word to use", check with the "woke crowed", they'll tell you.

Then you have to ask yourself, "who determines what is frivolous or not?"

One Mans' junk is another Mans' treasure. what is frivolous to one person, may not be to another.

I'm with you 6x6. And a couple thoughts. We give a folder with helpful information for new move ins. Doing that has almost eliminated the calls. The calls that have forgotten the informational resource, we kindly remind them. After all we are a service industry. Many times a situation can be handled by text or over the phone, so we try that first.

Added to their account to be paid by the next rent due date.

Yes, I certainly want them to tell me when something is broken.

I go over lots of things during the move-in orientation, including things like GFCI, circuit breakers, shut-off valves, air filters, etc. These are the types of things I would include - if I know they signed off on understanding how to do it.

I also give written instructions for key things.

In reality, for a new Tenant, I would likely give them 1 refresher for free - depending on the circumstances. Some things are just so obvious! But, If they are trying something, but just not getting it - that counts for something.

Thanks everybody, I'm going to stick with frivolous.

Lisa - I would have told them to scrape their scraps off the plate into the trash on Christmas. No WAY I would go over for that! But then, I remove any garbage disposal that is in a house when I buy it.