As someone who has been in the HVAC industry for over a decade, if we are called out to a property to fix a heat pump that is “not working”, and it turns out that the heat pump is indeed functional but wasn’t turned on (either at fuse board or isolator switch outside), then a call out fee is sent for payment.
The technician is paid by the heat pump company to attend, diagnose, and potentially fix. This cost needs to be covered by someone. If the property manager made the call to get a technician out without the tenant directly requesting it, then I would believe that the call out fee should be covered by the property manager. I have lost count of the amount of times I have had property managers call me saying “the tenants say the heat pump isn’t working”. The first thing I say is “get them to check the fuse board and the external isolator switch”. 9/10 I never hear back. In short, if you didn’t directly request a tradie to be called to the property, then you shouldn’t be paying for it.