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When Disaster Strikes in Fremont: Owner vs Renter Liability Responsibilities

A Resident’s Car Has Been Damaged by a Natural Disaster in Fremont

Major storms and natural disasters can cause a lot of property damage. As a Fremont rental property owner, do you know what your responsibilities are in the event that your resident’s personal property is damaged or destroyed?

Because some property owners do not know what they need to do or pay for when a storm or natural disaster damages their property, they automatically assume it is their responsibility to cover the cost of the all the damages. However, both renters and rental property owners have liabilities when it comes to property damage. Knowing which liabilities are yours and which belong to your residents is crucial when recovering from a natural disaster.

For instance, many rental properties have one or more huge trees on the exterior of the home. If a tree on your rental property collapses during a storm and damages a vehicle belonging to a resident, whose responsibility is it to cover the cost of repairs? In this case, paying for the damage is not your responsibility. 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, and tornadoes are unusual but possible situations that rental property owners and residents may face. If a natural disaster damages a rental property, it is the owner’s responsibility to make sure that it is livable and to fund the required repairs if it is not.

However, the resident’s personal property, including vehicles, and the costs of evacuation like transportation, alternative lodging, food, and other expenses are all the resident’s responsibility. If the property is returned to a habitable state quickly, the resident may still be responsible for the terms of the lease and should have enough renter’s insurance to cover temporarily needing alternative accommodations.

At Real Property Management Masters, we help rental property owners like you understand what your responsibilities are in the event of a natural disaster or another weather-related incident. No matter what nature brings, our quality property management services will help ease your worries about liability and guarantee that your residents are carrying their fair share of responsibility. Contact us online or give us a call at 510-398-8704 to find out more and learn what we can do for you.

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