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Insurance question: Who pays (Tenant or Tenant's insurance)?

Started by qwerty
almost 17 years ago
Posts: 139
Member since: Oct 2007
Discussion about
Leak reported in unit below. Assume building super and plumber determine leak caused by my tenants' failure to close shower curtain (not dripping knob or something behind the walls). Would tenant's renter's policy cover this?
Response by fakeestate
almost 17 years ago
Posts: 215
Member since: Nov 2008

If I were the tenant's insurance company I would say to you: prove it.

It sounds as if your proof is the mere word of your super and plumber; therefore, I would tell you to take a hike.

I guess you could pursue this in court if you want but, again, as the insurance company, I am more well capitalized than you.

Taking off my hat as the insurance company and just providing some friendly advice: pay for the damage yourself, and chalk it up to one of the costs of owning real estate. Confer with your accountant. Perhaps it can be deducted from taxes.

But getting a tenant's insurance company to pay for this? Doubtful.

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Response by qwerty
almost 17 years ago
Posts: 139
Member since: Oct 2007

fakeestate: You forget I hold tenants' security deposit. I will not be the one left holding the bag, it'll either be tenant or their insurance co. (makes no difference to me).

My question is really, is damage that is caused by a policy-holder's negligence generally considered a covered loss?

If someone rear-ends your car (their fault) do you just pay for the damage and just "chalk it up to the cost of owning a car"?

fakeestate=knucklehead

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Response by 1OneWon
almost 17 years ago
Posts: 220
Member since: Mar 2008

Wow, insulting the person that offered an answer to your question is pretty low. Best way for others to not take you seriously and offer their advice.

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Response by qwerty
almost 17 years ago
Posts: 139
Member since: Oct 2007

10neWone=knucklehead squared

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Response by kylewest
almost 17 years ago
Posts: 4455
Member since: Aug 2007

From the damaged party's perspective, the apartment owner above is responsible and that is whom I'd go after if I were flooded. I wouldn't give a hoot who you had staying in your apt or what agreement you had with them--that's something for you to work out, not me. If I were you, I'd work it out with the tenant while trying to keep insurance companies out of it. What liability you tenant technically has would first be determined by the terms of the lease you have with the tenant. If you don't have clauses in the lease for damages resulting from tenant negligence, that's your bad. Of course, you do have the security deposit, but what do you think the chances are the tenant will pay you the last month's rent?

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Response by alanhart
almost 17 years ago
Posts: 12397
Member since: Feb 2007

qwerty -- this is another incarnation of your deplorable bad-caulking-job-where-grout-should-be thread: http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/4619-secty-depsit-charge-tenant-for-re-caulking-tub-bc-mold-

You are responsible for installing and maintaining flooring appropriate to the room's use. In this case, a properly grouted bathroom floor that can hold a little puddle in the likely event that a shower-curtain doesn't perfectly seal off the water from the shower. Fail.

And I'm not convinced that the damage is from that at all. What have you done to rule out a plumbing leak (I'm not assuming that's what caused it)?

Finally, two or more minor claims to owner/renter insurance results in astronomical increases to premiums, if not outright blackballing.

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Response by alanhart
almost 17 years ago
Posts: 12397
Member since: Feb 2007

btw, your tenant is probably trying to get some air circulation in the shower area to prevent mold on the out-of-place caulk.

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Response by kylewest
almost 17 years ago
Posts: 4455
Member since: Aug 2007

Whoa, alanart. Nice catch. Forget that older thread until you mentioned it. Qwerty, leave everyone alone and just maintain the darn apartment and quit beating up the tenant.

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Response by qwerty
almost 17 years ago
Posts: 139
Member since: Oct 2007

alanhart: Wow. what a memory! and a very witty response too. Seriously.

(This is a new tenant).

I agree re damage not likely being from this at all. The sponsor unit below has damage that I suspect the building is trying to blame on me/my tenant rather than the real responsible party--the sponsor (there is no way the type of damage alleged could be caused by a few splashes getting past the shower curtain).

That said, I'm totally covered by lease terms re tenant's negligence.

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Response by drdrd
almost 17 years ago
Posts: 1905
Member since: Apr 2007

qwerty = JERK

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Response by julia
almost 17 years ago
Posts: 2841
Member since: Feb 2007

please post where your apartments are so I'll make sure not to ever, ever rent from you.

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Response by manhattanfox
almost 17 years ago
Posts: 1275
Member since: Sep 2007

READ YOUR POLICY and the LEASE

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