Do I Have To Worry About Flood Damage If I'm a Tenant?

11/17/2021 (Permalink)

While not legally required to, landlords are also urged to let renters know about the potential for flooding in the area.

Do I Have To Be Concerned About Flood Damage As A Tenant?

Mitigating the risk of home flooding can be nerve wracking, and doing so in a landlord/tenant scenario brings its own set of unique worries. Both renter and tenant may wonder about practical things like who handles flood cleanup or whether renter’s insurance covers flood damage. Be prepared by understanding the responsibilities of renters and tenants in Kennewick, WA.

Landlord’s Responsibilities

Unfortunately for tenants, landlords are not responsible for insuring their tenants. It’s for this reason that so many rental properties insist on tenants obtaining a renter’s insurance policy to cover their belongings. The good news is that such policies are cheap and plentiful. In general, the landlord’s responsibilities when it comes to flood damage extend to:

• The building structure itself as well as flooring, wiring, plumbing, and appliances
• Repairs required to make a space legally habitable

While not legally required to, landlords are also urged to let renters know about the potential for flooding in the area. Doing so can shield landlords from liability suits.

Tenants' Responsibilities

Tenants have limited responsibility in the face of flood damage to a rental house or apartment. That responsibility generally extends only to the things that are inside a unit. Personal items are typically addressed by tenant insurance coverage, as is the cost of temporary relocation and normal living expenses if the building is unlivable.

With that said, flood insurance policies are indeed available to renters. Tenants can buy a policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to cover contents up to $100,000. Like standard tenant insurance, this type of policy covers personal property and contents during a flood.

The decision to purchase flood insurance is up to the individual renter. In most cases, renter’s insurance is enough, but flood insurance can put your mind at ease. Use the above to inform your decision, or contact a local expert in flood damage cleanup to help you choose.