My tenant called in a panic that the pipes had burst and water was everywhere in a single family home I rent. Upon arrival, the source of water was a burst pipe on the upper floor of a multilevel home. The water did extensive damage to floors, ceilings, walls etc on all floors and flooded basement.
Besides that I was also shocked to find the tenant had moved almost all furniture and fridge and other belongings out without informing me of a move. I didn't see much activity there for seveal weeks and all the windowshades were pulled down and when I inquired was told they were staying at a family members who was sick and needed help. They still paid rent and said they travelled back each weekday to bring kids to school. I am kicking myself for not insisting to gain access to property but I didn't think I could just go in without their permission.
It appears as though a pipe had frozen and burst because they called the utility to shut off the electricity 3 weeks prior and the heat needs electricity to operate.
My insurance company says I will not be covered because the utilities were shut off.
The tenant did not tell me they were vacating the property which had a one year lease which doesn't end for 5 months. They did not maintain renters insurance which may have included some liability coverage.
I think the tenant is clearly negligent but what are my chances of getting any money back and at what legal cost. They damage may be 10's of thousands, my guess would be 50-60K.
Does the utility have any obligation to let the homeowner know of a shut off?
I never had a problem like this and have been a landlord for almost 20 years. I abide by all the laws, pay my bills, pay my insurance, keep the property up, yet it sounds like I have no recourse and the legal costs may not be worth trying to collect from tenant.
They do own their own small business but I think it is a DBA. Collection issues have been an issue with the tenant in the past with other issues that they claimed were a result of a temporary issue which made sense based on their credit file. They have up to now been good with paying rent (sometimes late by a couple or three weeks) but they paid.
The house is now a total mess. I cannot repair until the water is remediated. So I am out rent, repair costs and my personal time and aggravation.
Please some advise as I am desperate? What type of attorney to seek? W
Besides that I was also shocked to find the tenant had moved almost all furniture and fridge and other belongings out without informing me of a move. I didn't see much activity there for seveal weeks and all the windowshades were pulled down and when I inquired was told they were staying at a family members who was sick and needed help. They still paid rent and said they travelled back each weekday to bring kids to school. I am kicking myself for not insisting to gain access to property but I didn't think I could just go in without their permission.
It appears as though a pipe had frozen and burst because they called the utility to shut off the electricity 3 weeks prior and the heat needs electricity to operate.
My insurance company says I will not be covered because the utilities were shut off.
The tenant did not tell me they were vacating the property which had a one year lease which doesn't end for 5 months. They did not maintain renters insurance which may have included some liability coverage.
I think the tenant is clearly negligent but what are my chances of getting any money back and at what legal cost. They damage may be 10's of thousands, my guess would be 50-60K.
Does the utility have any obligation to let the homeowner know of a shut off?
I never had a problem like this and have been a landlord for almost 20 years. I abide by all the laws, pay my bills, pay my insurance, keep the property up, yet it sounds like I have no recourse and the legal costs may not be worth trying to collect from tenant.
They do own their own small business but I think it is a DBA. Collection issues have been an issue with the tenant in the past with other issues that they claimed were a result of a temporary issue which made sense based on their credit file. They have up to now been good with paying rent (sometimes late by a couple or three weeks) but they paid.
The house is now a total mess. I cannot repair until the water is remediated. So I am out rent, repair costs and my personal time and aggravation.
Please some advise as I am desperate? What type of attorney to seek? W
