For those of you who do some work yourselves between tenants what do you think is a fair labor rate to charge for your work?

I tend to do a lot of little things myself as I find it easier but when it’s a lot of little things I charge for my time. I’ve never figured out what a reasonable rate is. I can’t charge what I think my time is worth because a judge would laugh at me.

We are allowed to charge a reasonable labor rate. I was thinking $30-$50 per hour. I usually don’t bill for all of the hours. I would like to charge $50 but that seems high for what is mostly cleaning.

A tenant's children were playing ball inside their rental apartment and broke a glass window.

1) At first the wife refused to admit her children broke the window, saying someone thru a rock from the outside.

1A) I told the tenants that if they admitted it was their fault, I'd only charge them $20 for a sheet of glass, no installation charges.

1B) So they admitted it was their fault, but refused to pay me the $20 to buy the glass.

2) So I scheduled an appointment with a professional glass company, who was going to charge them $160, parts and labor. 2A) I sent a letter to the tenant that they needed to pay the glass company directly, or I was going to deduct the $160 from their deposit!

I do not think we can charge directly for our own labor. It is ridiculous and ends up costing the tenant more in the long run for sure.

Someone on here mentioned a year or so ago about starting a cleaning business. Just an LP or some such. Then bill you, the landlord, for services rendered.

I wouldn't work for anyone else for less than $50/hr, because I don't really need the money and I value my time. Even at that, it would have to be an interesting project.

My lease is clear: $75/ hour plus materials and mileage, REPLACEMENT cost, for resident or visitor caused damage and cleaning.

It is legal in Indiana for a LL to charge a fee for his/her labor but some judges make up their own rules. Gotta know YOUR judge.

We avoid this concern with the full page, 2 column, single spaced LIST of STANDARD CLEANING AND REPAIR CHARGES signed by the res at move in.

So the bill is NOT for ME doing work it's the pre-agreed amounts in the lease.

We also don't have to provide a receipt for every little item, like the glue or caulk used, items from stock...

I recently paid a carpenter $100 per hour to install doors.

Any trade is now $75-150/hour locally.

BRAD

NC says "reasonable" rates may be charged.

Just thinking briefly, I guess we would use an amalgam for our regular contractors: plumber, electrician, carpenter. I might add all those up and then divide by 3 or something?

In CALIFORNIA, a landlord is NOT allowed to charge tenants for their labor, only the cost of goods. So since I refused to work for free, I hired the glass company and sued my tenants for the $160, or they would face eviction. --47.155.xx.xxx

Was talking with the owner of a company who did some roof work for me.

Asked about installing a new exterior door. Labor only as I have the door and was just curious.

He said $500. It is local. No materials needed besides a few screws. Not wrapped afterward either. I will do that myself.

The problem with knowing how to do things yourself is that you end up doing them yourself.

I just cleared a main because my regular plumber is away for a few weeks. I called a local highly rated guy. Because I know all the bigger companies are expensive. The toilet had to come out so it was some extra work. The quote was $375. Seemed like a lot for an hour.

The problem with knowing how to do things yourself is that you end up doing them yourself.

I just cleared a main because my regular plumber is away for a few weeks. I called a local highly rated guy. Because I know all the bigger companies are expensive. The toilet had to come out so it was some extra work. The quote was $375. Seemed like a lot for an hour.

In Indiana our rates are probably lower than Cali.

Years ago a tough little lady LL in our assoc changed our judge's mind on rates. She got WRITTEN quotes from 2 contractors for handyman work on a basic turnover. (Screens, blinds, painting...)

$50 and $75 per hour. She presented these to the judge and said "As you can see MY rate of $50 per hour is CHEAPER for the tenant than me hiring it out."

From then on he allowed $50 for all LLs.

We're now at $75.

In Indiana our rates are probably lower than Cali.

Years ago a tough little lady LL in our assoc changed our judge's mind on rates. She got WRITTEN quotes from 2 contractors for handyman work on a basic turnover. (Screens, blinds, painting...)

$50 and $75 per hour. She presented these to the judge and said "As you can see MY rate of $50 per hour is CHEAPER for the tenant than me hiring it out."

From then on he allowed $50 for all LLs.

We're now at $75.