A landlord gave the new tenant my number and called me the “building contact.” How do I stop being unpaid support?

The new tenant downstairs texted me at 11:40 p.m. to ask how to reset the building’s water heater.

I had never met him. I also do not know how to reset the water heater.

The landlord had given him my phone number and described me as the “building contact.” I learned this after the tenant forwarded the welcome message. It said I could help with trash days, breaker locations, parking questions and anything that came up when the landlord was unavailable.

None of that was discussed with me.

I have lived in the four-unit building for six years. I know which trash bin goes where and how to unstick the front gate. I have occasionally helped new residents because it was easier than watching them struggle. Apparently those favors became a job title.

Since the tenant moved in, he has texted about a buzzing hallway light, a delivery he missed and whether his guests can use an unmarked parking space. His questions are reasonable. The problem is that they are being routed to another tenant instead of the person managing the property.

I replied to the water-heater message that he should contact the landlord or the emergency maintenance number in his lease. The next morning, the landlord thanked me for “pointing him in the right direction” and said experienced residents make the building run smoothly.

That response confirmed that this is not one mistaken introduction. The landlord sees my availability as part of the operating system.

I want to correct both directions. The new tenant needs to know I am a neighbor, not management. The landlord needs to remove my number from future welcome messages and handle existing expectations directly. I am willing to answer casual neighbor questions when I choose. I am not willing to triage maintenance, access or parking.

My concern is the tenant. If I suddenly stop responding, he may think I am unfriendly when he was explicitly told to contact me. The landlord created the misunderstanding and should repair it.

Would you send one joint message, speak separately to each person or insist that the landlord issue a correction? What wording keeps the boundary clear without making the new tenant feel blamed for using the contact he was given?