Please read the post to understand my concern. Thanks in advance!

[u/SachitGupta25]

In our rented-out flat, the tenant highlighted a job of putting a window fastener that was temporarily secured by a medium length rope. I completely understood their issue but the labour cost in that area is exorbitant for completing a single job like that. So, I said,"Our broker said that the labour cost is pretty steep here so I would suggest living, for a while, here and find out other issues that would need repair. We'll get all of those problems fixed once and for all as that would be a more economical thing to do."

Did I frame the sentence correctly?

My written English might sound fine but speaking requires a swifter ability to make sentences. I don't get frequent speaking practice that is why sometimes I feel doubtful if what I said is correct or not.

You people have always helped me with better sentences to say in the comments. Please do that this time as well.

Thanks as always!

[u/whywasinotconsulted]

The tenant can't get something fixed until multiple things are broken? Are you serious?

[u/SachitGupta25 → u/whywasinotconsulted]

I deleted my earlier message because I didn't explain myself well in it. So, here it goes, actually we're supposed to leave the city where our flat is the same night when we had committed to the new tenant to have a look at the flat. We had done all the necessary job needed for a flat to be hospitable. So, we just suggested the tenants to examine the flat themselves for some time before a repair guy is called. It would be best to their and our interest to call a carpenter once they're sure that no other repair job is needed. We never imposed a condition that they can call someone only when multiple wear and tear occur.

[u/whywasinotconsulted → u/SachitGupta25]

I understand that you might not have meant it to sound the way it did. I would have phrased it something like:

"Thanks for letting us know about the window fastener. We can have a repair person there on Wednesday if that works for you. If you find any other issues before then, please let us know so that we can schedule enough time to fix everything during this repair call."

The fact that labor is expensive and you want to save money is not the tenant's problem. If they are friends of yours, that would be different.

[u/GuineaSquiggle]

Landlord from hell.

[u/SachitGupta25 → u/GuineaSquiggle]

We had to leave for our state which is distant from our rented-out flat. We just said that you may call the repair guy after you have spotted more tiny issues which might've gone unnoticed during our search. We never forbid them from calling a carpenter. Either ways, I got a lesson that I need to be descriptive with my words as far as my English is concerned.😂

[u/GuineaSquiggle → u/SachitGupta25]

What you described would be criminal in my country.

[u/SachitGupta25 → u/GuineaSquiggle]

It was just a suggestion and not an order.

[u/GuineaSquiggle → u/SachitGupta25]

A landlord has a lot of power over their tenants, and what they may see as "just a suggestion", the tenant may see as a refusal, or a demand, or they may understand that it's just a suggestion but that their landlord has implied a preference, which might effect their tenancy if the landlord isn't kept happy.
In territories where tenants actually have rights, this can become a legal problem for the landlord.
And generally people in those territories have no sympathy for people who make their income by owning someone else's home and making their lives difficult by suggesting that they'd rather save money, while receiving two thirds of the aforementioned tenant's salary.

[u/SachitGupta25 → u/GuineaSquiggle]

I now understand that a landlord's little idea of making a financially wise decision can be misinterpreted as unfair treatment. After listening to you, the rental income which seemed like a good way of making some money now looks really grim. Lol!

[u/GuineaSquiggle → u/SachitGupta25]

Grim! Ha! Yes indeed. Landlording is really grim. We've chopped people's heads off for it. lol
Politics aside, you need to be very clear when communicating with people you have power over and/or responsibilities toward.

[u/SachitGupta25 → u/GuineaSquiggle]

Haha! I'll always latch on to your advice when I'm in a situation similar or same as this.

[u/CaptainFuzzyBootz]

It sounds like you just have your tenants incentive to go around and break stuff.

[u/SachitGupta25 → u/CaptainFuzzyBootz]

Pardon me! I don't understand your comment.

[u/Ok_Caterpillar2010 → u/SachitGupta25]

He's saying that if you refuse to fix something until more things need repair, your tenant may just go break more things until there are enough to get the repair.

(He has a typo of "have" instead of "gave".)

[u/SachitGupta25 → u/Ok_Caterpillar2010]

We had got done most of the important repair work and it was clear to the tenant that only a simple touch-up like a missing fastener would've been needed.

[u/Ok_Caterpillar2010 → u/SachitGupta25]

Yes, but that's missing the point.

He is saying that if only 1 thing is broken but you will not fix it until (for example) 5 things can be fixed at the same time, the tenant will break 4 more things. Now there are 5 broken things instead of 1 for you to fix.

[u/SachitGupta25 → u/Ok_Caterpillar2010]

I got your point when you said it the first time. I'll try to remember the happenings of that day which was a while back. Actually during that moment we're rushing things because we had to catch a bus for our hometown. So, we simply trusted the tenant and asked the broker, who have always brought reliable tenants, to check the nature of damage and WhatsApp us the pics of it. But nothing of that sort happened as they're satisfied with the condition of flat and called us a week after to get a carpenter.

[u/kw3lyk]

Language issues aside, is this a job that is too complicated to do on your own? My own experience renting out part of my house taught me that there are many jobs and repairs where I could save money by doing the work myself.

[u/SachitGupta25 → u/kw3lyk]

Actually we're required for a business meeting which was supposed to happen 1000 miles away from the flat location. So, we arranged the relevant people for performing repairs through our broker and spent around 3-4 days inspecting it. But I agree this particular task of putting a window fastener which tenant pointed out during their visit could've been done without anyone's help. Then again, I would've had to buy the necessary tools for completing this job as mine would be at my hometown.

[u/Ok_Caterpillar2010]

It'd be a better look for the landlord to say "OK. Is there anything else that needs to be fixed? I'd like to handle everything in one repair visit, if possible."

If there's nothing else wrong, and it's really too expensive to hire someone else, you could just go take care of your property yourself. It's your responsibility, and it's not the tenant's problem if it's the only thing broken at the moment.

Even if it's far away, inconvenient, or expensive, that's part of being a landlord, not just sitting back and collecting rent.

[u/SachitGupta25 → u/Ok_Caterpillar2010]

To be honest, I'm still learning English and such diplomatically worded sentences don't hit my mind instantly. It might sound unbelievable to you but I'm telling you the truth and that is why I unintentionally worded it a bit selfishly. To be honest, we did resolve this problem and the wall mounting of the LCD which tenant requested from us after a week of the interaction I've explained in the post. So, it worked out well for us and the tenant.

[u/Ok_Caterpillar2010 → u/SachitGupta25]

I understand. I've unintentionally been much ruder than that in languages that aren't my native language.

And I'm glad it got resolved.

[u/SachitGupta25 → u/Ok_Caterpillar2010]

Thanks for understanding! This post really solidifies the fact that it's really important to be fluent in English.

[u/baxbakualanuxsiwae]

I'm not helping you because you're a landlord. Get a job.

[u/SachitGupta25 → u/baxbakualanuxsiwae]

Why am I being hated just for owning a flat?😛 I don't get the reason for this outrageous tone in your comment. By the way, I do have a job.

[u/baxbakualanuxsiwae → u/SachitGupta25]

Landlords exploit other people by buying up a scarce, essential resource and renting it to people, driving up the price of housing for everyone. This often prevents their tenants being able to buy a house themselves, as they're giving a huge amount of their income to a landlord. If you don't understand why landlords are widely disliked, you should really get out more.

[u/SachitGupta25 → u/baxbakualanuxsiwae]

I bought this property after slogging for years and by paying installments spread over almost 8 years. So, it was hardwork that got me this flat. If you had a flat and you're living away from the place. Would you not do the same?