Water damage can have a drastic and lasting impact on apartments. If the water damage is severe, it can even affect your neighbors. As a tenant, it is your duty to inform your landlord immediately and you should be aware of some rights when dealing with the water damage.

As a tenant or owner of the apartment, there are several factors to consider when there is a water damage situation in your apartment.

Prompt action

If you are the tenant, you need to contact your landlord or the maintenance team immediately. Delay in reporting the damage increases the likelihood of property damage and even eviction.

If you are the property owner, it is important to contact a water restoration specialist as soon as possible. It is ideal to consider a water restoration specialist that provides assistance with insurance documentation.

Identify the source

Even though the likelihood of you needing a water removal specialist to efficiently resolve the situation is more, it would be ideal to try and identify the source of water damage.

There are several possible sources of water damage within apartments, which are listed below:

• Leaky/broken faucet
• Leaky refrigerator
• Flooded toilet

Faulty appliances, broken faucets are the major causes of water damage in apartments. Overlooking the possibility of an overflowing bathtub or forgetting it completely can easily lead to a water damage situation. Bear in mind that this can happen to your neighbor as well.

Document the damage

Ensure that you take videos and photos of water damage as early as possible. This will come in handy when documenting files for renter’s insurance or even communicating with a water restoration specialist. It is ideal to keep these files for at least a year.

You can even consider documenting the procedures carried out by the restoration specialists. Keep notes of the process and other aspects like the call logs and what was initially agreed upon.

Contacting a water restoration company

If you are just the tenant of the apartment and would like some immediate response in cases where the landlord is taking his time, you can consider contacting the water damage specialists directly.

On most of such occasions, the company will refuse to carry out the restoration process unless they get approval from the landlord. Under such circumstances, be prepared to require the company to contact the landlord directly.

Who pays for the water damage?

As just a tenant, your landlord is responsible for water damage repair costs to the apartment. However, bear in mind that any damage to your personal belongings is your own responsibility. Foresee this and make sure that you prioritize the task of moving your belongings to a safe area during water damage or instances like flooding.
However, if the damage to your possessions seems to be due to the negligence of the landlord and if you can prove it, you can get some compensation.

It is critical to act quickly and smart in case of water damage irrespective of whether it’s contacting a restoration company, informing your landlord or moving your belongings to a safe area. Foresee these caveats to ensure that you make the right decisions without any delay.