Is a Rental Property Owner Responsible for Fire Damage?

11/21/2018 (Permalink)

Fire damage in Park Slope,NY

Owners and tenants may be uncertain about who bears responsibility for damage mitigation and restoration after an apartment fire or a fire at another rental property. Property owners are usually responsible for damage to the property itself, and tenants are responsible for cleaning or replacing their own contents. Find out more about liability for fire damage to rental properties located in Park Slope, NY.

Structural Damage

Landlords are responsible for damage to the property, including:

• Building materials
• Structural components
• Electrical and plumbing systems
• Interior materials such as carpet

A homeowner's insurance policy should cover the cost of cleaning, repairing, or replacing these components after an apartment fire. This coverage can offset the cost of professional mitigation and restoration.

Damaged Contents

Tenants have the responsibility to repair or replace their own property, including:

• Belongings
• Clothing
• Electronics
• Furniture

Landlords may want to recommend that tenants obtain renter's insurance. These affordable policies can help with the costs of content cleaning, restoration, or replacing losses.

Insurance Claims

As soon as a property owner finds out that a fire has occurred, there are several steps he or she should take:

• Document the damage
• Contact the homeowner's insurance provider
  
• Schedule an appointment with a claims adjuster
  
• Proceed with filing a fire damage claim

An adjuster can guide rental property owners through the process of filing a claim. If tenants have renter's insurance, they should also document damage and file a claim through their insurance provider. These claims are entirely separate.

Property owners and tenants both bear some responsibility for cleaning, repairs, and replacing items after an apartment fire or an incident in another type of rental property in Park Slope,NY. Damage mitigation experts can clean and restore damaged building materials and contents. Homeowner's and renter's policies may be able to cover some or all of the cleanup and restoration costs related to the structure or contents.