Who Pays For the Damage In a Rental Property After a Fire?

10/10/2022 (Permalink)

A home fire can leave people with a feeling of all is lost.

Who Is Responsible for Repairs After a Fire in a Rental Property?

If you're renting a home or apartment in Carthage, MO, that catches on fire, you might wonder who's responsible for the cost of repairs. The answer is complicated and depends on whether you're covered by insurance or not.

Tenants need renters insurance.

If you rent a space in a multi-unit building, then chances are you live in an area where renters insurance is not required. However, as we've discussed above, tenants are still responsible for any damage they cause to the property itself and its contents during their time in the apartment. Investing in renters insurance is crucial in order to protect yourself and your belongings.

In this case, it's important for tenants to be aware that they need renters insurance—and even more so for those who plan on renting out their homes or apartments. If a tenant does not have renters insurance and causes damage to another person's home or property, that person may sue them for damages suffered resulting from the accident (or series of accidents). In addition, if there is no coverage available from other sources such as homeowners' policies or other personal policies like auto liability insurance then this could lead to financial catastrophe for both parties involved!

Landlords need to pay for building damage.

This is why when there's a fire in a rental property, the landlord is responsible for paying for building damage. This includes replacing walls, ceiling tiles, and flooring.

The tenant is responsible for content damage—anything that's not part of the structure of the building itself. That includes kitchen appliances, furniture, and other belongings you'd find inside your apartment or house. 

Landlords should inform tenants about who covers what before signing any contracts, so everyone knows where they stand from day one! And remember to save receipts! In order to get reimbursed later on down the road you'll want proof that everything was replaced by someone else other than yourself.

Documentation is important

As mentioned previously, tenants should always have renters insurance, and document everything. If you don't have renter's insurance, you may be responsible for paying for repairs after a fire or other damage. Fortunately, many of the costs associated with those repairs can be covered by renter's insurance. A typical renter's policy will cover losses due to fire and lightning (including power surges), windstorm or hail, explosion, smoke damage, and water damage. Most policies also offer additional coverage for personal property like computers and furniture up to $2,000 in value—and this is usually limited only if there was loss due to theft or vandalism.

Even though landlords are responsible for the property, they can't be held responsible for everything that happens on it. It's important to have as many protections in place as possible so you're prepared when something unexpected happens. If your home or business in Carthage, MO, suffers from a fire, don’t hesitate and give our SERVPRO of Carthage/Joplin team a call for all your fire damage cleanup and restoration needs!