Who Pays After an Apartment Fire?

4/24/2021 (Permalink)

Apartment fire in Guthrie, OK.

Who Is Responsible In The Event Of An Apartment Fire

When you are a landlord or property owner, an apartment fire can be confusing. The last thing that you want to worry about is who pays for the damage. Fortunately, most state and federal responsibility laws are pretty clear.

Landlord / Property Owner's Responsibility
The landlord or property owner is responsible for the structure and the systems such as:

• Electrical
  
• Heat
  
• Air conditioning
  
• Plumbing
  
  

These systems are part of the overall building and usually inaccessible to tenants. For the most part, as an owner or landlord, you are not personally responsible. Your insurance company will pay for the damage.
This ultimately depends on what your policy says. In many cases, this insurance policy will include things like hiring a remediation company in Guthrie, OK, as well as any other fire damage repair costs.
This assumes that the damage is due to a fault with the building, fire hazard, or inclement weather. You, as a landlord, are not responsible for the tenant's personal property or belongings damaged in the fire.

Tenant Responsibility
Your tenants also have responsibilities after a fire. Tenants are responsible for their possessions and personal property in the event of an apartment fire due to a problem with the structure or a natural cause like lightning. This is why you should always require your tenants to have renters insurance. In the majority of cases, the insurance will pick up where the property insurance leaves off.
Of course, there are some exceptions. If the tenant or one of their guests starts the fire, then they will be held responsible. Fortunately, insurance companies often straighten this out for you.
If your tenant does not have insurance, things might get a bit tricky. It is always a good idea to include fire insurance or renter's insurance as a requirement in your lease. This way, it is clear who is responsible for paying for damages when the fire is your tenant's fault.
As a landlord or property owner, you should know who is responsible in the event of an apartment fire. Knowing your responsibility is a key factor in making your recovery go smoothly.