As a rental property owner in Nashville, it’s critical to understand your responsibilities in consideration that there are major storms and natural disasters that can generate extensive damage. This includes determining how to handle the potential damage or breakage 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 wholly the property owner’s responsibility. But, in truth, both renters and rental property owners have liabilities relating to property damage. Getting clear on these liabilities is a vital part of being prepared for and recovering from misfortune.
Like for instance, a good deal of 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 utterly destroys a vehicle belonging to a resident, whose responsibility is it to cover the cost of repairs? In this particular case, paying for the damage is not your responsibility at all. But instead, the resident’s auto or renter’s insurance should cover the cost of fixing 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 sometimes. In the unfortunate event of a natural disaster damaging a rental property, it is the legal obligation of the property owner to completely make sure that the living conditions of the property are safe and habitable for the tenants. Over and above that, the property owner is certainly also financially responsible for settling and covering the expenses related to the repair work required to restore the property to a habitable state.
But really, on the other hand, the resident’s personal property, to cite examples vehicles, the cost of transportation due to an evacuation, lodging, food, and other expenses are all the resident’s responsibility. As long as the property is rehabilitated 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, at least temporarily, alternative accommodations and appropriate protection of their personal belongings in case of damage or loss. Getting your tenants to do so may save you both any added headache in the event of a disaster.
How to stay prepared as a landlord
As a landlord, it is critical to prioritize disaster preparedness. Expected disasters can pressingly impact your rental properties and tenants. To warrant the safety and security of your properties, look at executing a comprehensive property risk assessment, owning extensive insurance coverage, and accomplishing preventative measures for example reinforcing vulnerable areas, securing loose objects, and putting up surge protectors.
Organizing a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan and properly communicating evacuation routes and emergency contacts to your tenants are pertinent steps. Developing protocols for securing the property, in addition, contributes to diligent disaster preparedness, successfully safeguarding your rental properties and the well-being of your tenants ultimately.
At Real Property Management Key Response, we are strongly committed to help Nashville rental property owners like you navigate the problems of natural disasters and other weather-related incidents. Contact us online or call us at 615-953-8700 today to understand more concerning how we can provide you with the much-needed competent guidance and support you look for.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
