Restoration After a Fire: Tips For Sorting Insurance Responsibility and Repairing Rental Properties

4/12/2020 (Permalink)

Apartment fire in Jonesborough, TN

Restoration After A Fire

The aftermath of an apartment fire can be a stressful, confusing time for everyone involved. Getting an idea of what needs to happen in advance can make the days after a blaze feel less overwhelming. If you find yourself dealing with a fire in Jonesborough, TN, here's what you'll need to remember for your insurance company:

• Call insurance right away to get the claims started.
  
• Don't touch or clean anything - get photos of everything.
  
• Create a detailed inventory of damaged items, features or structures.
  
• Communicate with the fire department to get a fire report for your property.
  
• Figure out whose insurance is responsible for which damages.
  
  

Landlords' Responsibility

In the case of an apartment fire, the landlord's insurance is responsible for all structural damage and any repairs related to the rental property itself. This would include property fittings and any fixtures that will remain after renters move out. There's an exception to this rule if the blaze is shown to be a tenant's fault. If they are somehow responsible, their insurance pays for fire or smoke damage to the property.

Tenants' Responsibility

When there's fire damage to the contents inside the property - furnishings, belongings, garments, etc. - the renter is responsible for covering those repairs. If the tenant has renter's insurance with contents coverage, their insurance should cover the bulk of repairs or replacements. However, if the fire is shown to be caused by negligence on the landlord's part, the property owner's insurance might then be on the hook for covering content damage.
After insurance and responsibility have been sorted, you may find yourself needing to repair several types of damage. Fire can lead to other malfunctions, such as burst pipes and water damage. The best thing you can do is hire seasoned professionals, well-versed in multiple types of damage, to help you fix the myriad issues flames can create in an apartment. Between having the right information for insurance and partnering with good restoration professionals, you can expedite the process of getting your property ready to live in once again.