If our landlord has some type of homeowners insurance, could it help cover some of the flood damage expense caused by our cat?
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If our landlord has some type of homeowners insurance, could it help cover some of the flood damage expense caused by our cat?
We are tenants in a condo building. Our cat caused our kitchen sink to overflow while we were at work. It caused slight damage to our wood flooring in the kitchen (landlord says sanding down and re-polishing should fix it). It also leaked through to the unit below us causing roughly $2600 in damage to their ceilings. We faxed our renters insurance to our landlord at his request but I don’t believe this type of flooding is covered. I’m wondering if we’re going to have to pay for the damages in full or is there another option. The landlord hasn’t mentioned anything about liability or homeowners insurance but if he has that could that benefit us in any way?
Asked on February 4, 2012 under Real Estate Law, New Jersey
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Possibly you landlord has insurance coverage to cover the damage in the rental that you have caused by your cat. You should ask him or her about it. However, even if there is insurance that covers the damage, the insurance company for the landlord can pay the claim and then bring an action against you for the costs incurred for the repairs under the law.
Whether that happens remains to be seen. I always recommend to tenants to pick up a policy of renter's insurance to cover a situation like you are writing about.
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