Intellectual Property Law

Is my property management liable for stolen property on my rental home if she provided key to her vendors?

My property management placed a key box so that her vendors can enter my rental property to fix or repair areas. She called me to state that my fridge & gas stove have been stolen. The only one with a code to the lock box was her maintenance vendor. There was no forced entry. Isn't my property management liable for having the maintenance person replace my appliances, and if he doesn't, isn't she? My new tenant just moved in WITHOUT her fridge & stove available, and property management tells me to purchase new ones ASAP!!! WHAT?!!??!! Thank you for advices, this property was our vacation home & only rented once; I also did not purchase homeowner's insurance, so nothing to claim. The new tenant just moved in yesterday & I do feel awful! I am totally upset about the negligent effort on my property management part. Should I just fire her or wait on her response from her discussion with her vendor Monday to see if he will cover this?

Public Comments

1. yes. make out a police report. though they may make no effort to catch the thieves, you'll need the report for your insurance company.
2. That sucks. It'll depend on your state/country. In general though, i think you can prove negligence on her part. In addition, if the only one with the code was her maintenance vendor, I hope you included that in your police report. For now, buy the appliances and hope you can get the money from her in court. And get a new property manager (keeping her on will look bad in court).
3. No way! You are not responsible. The property management is responsible. Now they should go after the vendors but that is their call. They would be stupid not to go after the vendors but that is not your problem. The person who put the lock box on your property is responsible for who has access to that box. They probably have insurance for this type of thing. Call for legal advice ASAP. Call legal aid. The management isn't going to do anything unless you hassle them so you need to tell them that you are seeking legal advice. That should get things in motion. Also, don't let it go...just keep after them.
4. you need a police report..even if the police say it is civil..get a file#.. buy the fridge and stove ; and start a small claims actions on the "property management" you hired them and they were to do the job. read your contract ............. when you hired them ...... they brought in tenants ..... and there should be a clause in that "rental agreement" you signed when you hired them, property management, on who is responsible ..for goods/damage from tenants that left ...... find that clause .... isn't that why you hired them, property management, so you would not have to worry over repairs/damage/rental, etc. start your own action I own a rental unit and do all my own management..and take a risk of stolen appliances ; and why the damamge deposit is in place ............. the worst small claims, was in a high end brand new condo rented out; and the appliances were damaged. in small claims..the cost of depreciation was taken off..from the new: so eg..1 year old appliances less 15% on the new.. good luck..
5. I would file a police report and have them investigate it. That property management company better be doing background checks on anyone with access to keys. Sounds like they didn't which leaves them wide open to a lawsuit. What do they have to say for themselves in this? Did they investigate?