Steps for Landlords to Take After Rental Property Fire

7/3/2020 (Permalink)

Apartment fire in Sumner, OK

An apartment fire can be limited to one apartment or spread to a number of them. As a landlord in Sumner, OK, it’s your responsibility to have the affected buildings and other property that you own (e.g., appliances) restored and/or replaced. The tenants are responsible for their property.

What Steps Should Be Taken To Solve the Situation?

1. Check on Your Tenants
Your tenants must be checked on as soon as possible to make sure that they’re safe and to know of any damage in their spaces. Also, ask them about the details of the time surrounding the fire and if they have an idea of how it started, etc.

2. Inform Your Insurance Company
It’s important to immediately notify your insurance agent about the fire. The claim process should begin as soon as possible so that restoration can begin and the tenants can begin looking forward to resuming occupancy and their normal routine.

3. Contact Fire Restoration Professionals
Contact a fire damage remediation company to make an appointment to have the damage from the apartment fire assessed. This will provide your insurance company with information about the damage and get your property on the road to recovery.

4. Notify Renters About the Next Steps
Make sure that your tenants who have damaged property have contacted their insurance company if they have renter’s insurance. This is especially important if there are uninhabitable units; the insurance company can provide temporary housing for the tenants. In the case of tenants who don’t have renter’s insurance, the American Red Cross can help with temporary housing and other emergency essentials.

5. Arrange a Walk-Through With a Fire Officer
You and affected tenants will need to do a walk-through with the fire officer to assess the damage and to collect salvageable personal belongings. You, employees, and tenants must wait for the fire department to check the affected area before entering.
If your property experiences an apartment fire, it’s critical to begin the recovery process as soon as possible. Fire damage restoration experts are Here to Help.