As a rental property owner in Allentown, it’s key to understand your responsibilities when there are going to be major storms and natural disasters that can cause extensive damage. This encompasses knowing precisely how to handle the potential damage or ruin 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 purely the property owner’s responsibility. Fundamentally, though, both renters and rental property owners have liabilities so far as it concerns property damage. Comprehending these liabilities is a vitally important part of being prepared for and recovering from misfortune.
For example, majority of rental properties feature one or more large trees around the home’s exterior. If a tree on your rental property falls during a storm and utterly destroys a vehicle belonging to a resident, whose responsibility is it to cover the cost of repairs? In this context, paying for the damage is not your responsibility. In fact, the resident’s auto or renter’s insurance should cover the cost of rehabilitating 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 every now and again. In the unfortunate event of a natural disaster damaging a rental property, it is the legal obligation of the property owner to see to it that the living conditions of the property are safe and habitable for the tenants. In addition to that, the property owner is moreover financially responsible for identifying and covering the expenses related to the repair work required to restore the property to a habitable state.
Though, on the other hand, the resident’s personal property, for example vehicles, the cost of transportation arising from an evacuation, lodging, food, and other expenses are all the resident’s responsibility. As long as the property is rightly returned to a habitable state within a short period, the resident may still be responsible for the lease terms. They must have suitable renter’s insurance to cover needing, for just a short time alternative accommodations and to secure their personal belongings in case of damage or loss. Seriusly encouraging your tenants to do so may save you both a lot of extra headache in the event of a disaster.
How to stay prepared as a landlord
As a landlord, it is basically important to prioritize disaster preparedness. Potential disasters can significantly impact your rental properties and tenants. To always make sure of the safety and security of your properties, study about carrying out a thorough property risk assessment, taking on sufficient insurance coverage, and implementing preventative measures like reinforcing vulnerable areas, securing loose objects, and putting up surge protectors.
Properly creating a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan and meticulously communicating evacuation routes and emergency contacts to your tenants are focal steps you can follow. Taking on protocols for securing the property also hugely contributes to proactive disaster preparedness, greatly safeguarding your rental properties and the security of your tenants, when all is said and done .
At Real Property Management Pro Care, we are eager and committed to help Allentown rental property owners like you navigate the tough issues of natural disasters and other weather-related incidents. Contact us online or call us at 215-770-4312 today to find out more relative to how we can grant you the correct guidance and support you need and yearn for.
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