We rent our house, and the pump stopped working during the Armageddon-style rains we've had this last week. The landlord is replacing the pump, but is he also responsible for replacing our things that were destroyed, since it was HIS pump that stopped working? I'm not talking about alot here, not trying to gouge him. A couple of sleeping bags, some thrift-store furniture, a couple of framed prints. What are our rights here?
2007-12-06 08:33:19 · 6 answers · asked by tygrlili99 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
Haha. Yes. Seattle. We were just about to start gathering animals 2 by 2, when we looked in the garage.
2007-12-06 08:53:31 · update #1
No, the landlord is not responsible for your items unless the damage that was cause was from his negligence. If, for example, the sump pump broke prior to the rains and you reported it to the landlord and he did not fix it, then yes, he is responsible because the flood that happened was a direct result of his inaction.
The damage that you are speaking about is what Renter's Insurance is for. Contrary to what one of the previous posters stated, your landlord does not have a Homeowners policy, he has a Landlord policy. Landlord policies cover the dwelling itself (in case it caught fire, etc) and it covers liability for things like slip and fall, etc. a Landlord policy does not cover items which are inside the household at all.
Look at it this way, if you were filling up the tub and forgot about it and it overflowed. would the landlord be responsible? It was HIS tub that overflowed. No, he would not be responsible because he did nothing to cause the flood. Now if he were there working on the pipes and managed to flood the house he would be completely responsible because it was his action that caused the flood.
2007-12-06 09:39:40 · answer #1 · answered by Patrick 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, your landlord is NOT responsible for such damage, even if it was HIS pump which failed. Landlords are not responsible for damages to tenant personal property, regardless of the cause. That's what renter's insurance is for.
Think of it THIS way. If the pump had not failed, but the electricity had gone out, would you expect the electric utility to pay for your lost property ? The result would have been the same.
2007-12-06 09:06:12 · answer #2 · answered by acermill 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a basement gets a little water in it you can pump it out. If the driveway and the garage get water in it get a tractor to put a ditch in to drain the property . Chances are the house will just rot at the ground.
2007-12-06 08:51:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, he is responsible, despite what he will tell you.
When the landlord's PROPERTY, causes damage to yours, then it's time to find out who he has for homeowner's insurance and file a claim with them.
However, the items you are mentioning are probably $200 tops...to me, that is not worth filing a claim for and having your landlord ask you to leave at the end of the lease.
2007-12-06 08:47:45 · answer #4 · answered by Expert8675309 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't really know how that works, your going to have to talk to your landlord. Do you live in Washington? Becuase some parts in my neighborhood were flooded this weekend too.
2007-12-06 08:41:14 · answer #5 · answered by Kelly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No he is not that is what rental insurance is for.
2007-12-06 12:59:27 · answer #6 · answered by vlvtnrbt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋