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Owner vs. Renter Liability: Navigating Disaster Responsibilities

A tree fallen on an SUV during an intense storm. As a rental property owner in Gladstone, it’s weighty to understand your responsibilities if there should happen to be major storms and natural disasters that can cause extensive damage. This implies realizing how to handle the potential damage or destruction of your residents’ personal property.

Who is responsible for damage resulting from a disaster?

It’s a common misconception that any damage caused by a storm or natural disaster is singly the property owner’s responsibility. But in actuality, both renters and rental property owners have liabilities towards property damage. Ascertaining these liabilities is a significant part of being prepared for and recovering from misfortune.

To cite an instance, innumerable rental properties feature one or more large trees around the home’s exterior. If a tree on your rental property falls down during a storm and busts a vehicle belonging to a resident, whose responsibility is it to cover the cost of repairs? In this specific instance, paying for the damage is not your responsibility. Instead, the resident’s auto or renter’s insurance should cover the cost of mending the resident’s car.

What about other types of damage caused by a natural disaster?

Floods, wildfires, tornados, and more are all potential events that rental property owners and residents may face on occasion. In the unfortunate event of a natural disaster damaging a rental property, it is the legal obligation of the property owner to make it a point that the living conditions of the property are safe and habitable for the tenants. In addition, the property owner is furthermore financially responsible for sorting out and covering the expenses related to the repair work required to restore the property to a habitable condition.

But in contrast to that, the resident’s personal property, for example vehicles, the cost of transportation for the reason of an evacuation, lodging, food, and other expenses are all the resident’s responsibility. As long as the property is repaired to a habitable state within a short period, the resident may still be responsible for the lease terms. They must have extensive renter’s insurance to cover needing alternative accommodations for a short time and appropriately protect their personal belongings in case of damage or loss. Urging your tenants to do so may save you both additional headache in the event of a disaster.

How to stay prepared as a landlord

As a landlord, it is relevant to prioritize disaster preparedness. Certain disasters can absolutely impact your rental properties and tenants. To always make certain of the safety and security of your properties, evaluate implementing a thorough property risk assessment, getting more than adequate insurance coverage, and completing preventative measures, by way of example reinforcing vulnerable areas, securing loose objects, and furnishing surge protectors.

Creating a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan and rightly communicating evacuation routes and emergency contacts to your tenants are pertinent steps. Formulating protocols for securing the property additionally contributes to proactive disaster preparedness, essentially safeguarding your rental properties and the welfare of your tenants ultimately.

At Real Property Management Principles, we are truly committed to helping Gladstone rental property owners like you navigate the concerns of natural disasters and other weather-related incidents. Contact us online or call us at 816-890-9800 today to discover more concerning how we can endow you with the needed guidance and support your are searching for.

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