3 Facts About Fire Damage At A Rental Property - Lee & South Chatham Counties

4/1/2019 (Permalink)

Rental property owners and tenants may be unsure about the limits of their responsibilities for fire damage. Here are three helpful facts about liability and insurance coverage in the event of an apartment fire in Lee & South Chatham Counties.

1. Property Owners Are Responsible For Structural Damage A landlord is responsible for covering damage caused by fire to the property itself. This includes building materials, systems, and provided contents, such as carpeting. A homeowners insurance policy should cover the cost of cleaning, restoring, or replacing damaged materials and items. 2. Tenants Are Responsible For Their Contents Tenants are responsible for restoring or replacing their own possessions following an apartment fire. These contents may include clothing, furniture, electronic devices, and personal effects. This is likely to be the case regardless of the cause of a fire. Renters insurance can help to offset costs that accrue due to a fire at a rented residence. Tenants should make sure that that the policy they choose will cover replacement costs and not actual value with depreciation. 3. Renters Insurance Can Cover Additional Costs Renters insurance policies may also provide a limited amount of liability coverage for negligence as well as injuries or property damage suffered by third parties. These policies may also help to offset a variety of expenses associated with loss of a use of a residence, such as additional living costs or the cost of temporary relocation for the duration of the mitigation and restoration process. After an apartment fire has been extinguished, renters should document damage to contents and make a list of items in need of restoration, repair, or replacement. Try to locate proof of purchase if possible. Property owners should also document structural damage to support a separate homeowners insurance claim. Renters and landlords can both benefit from the expertise of a fire damage cleanup and restoration company in Lee & South Chatham Counties.