How Should Landlords Deal With Emergencies?
With any emergency, you need to respond rapidly and deal with it effectively to minimise the impact on the property itself and your tenants. There are several emergency situations which may spring up, so the team here at PIIM Property has brought you some helpful information about which actions to take.
My Tenant Has Reported Flooding in A Rental Property
Your property may be flooded by rainwater entering the property from outside. This maybe through a damaged roof, however, more commonly flooding is caused by an internal water escape or leak. Examples of this may occur due to frozen pipes, failed pipework joints, or even a tenant allowing the bath to overflow.
No matter the cause of the flood, you tenants should switch off the supply of water at the stopcock and call the appropriate emergency number. This may be your property agent, emergency contractor, or you yourself.
My Tenant Has Lost Their Keys
If your tenant has lost their keys, they must take responsibility for the costs arising from their replacement. This should be outlined in your tenancy agreement. Your agent may be willing to let your tenants into the rental property if they have to access it immediately, but if your tenant discovers their keys are lost outside of office hours, they should telephone a locksmith and pay the costs themselves.
Ensure your tenant is aware of who to call in the event of this happening. Check your insurance as it may cover replacement locks and lost keys, with a 24-hour response line to contact.
A lost key poses a potential security risk and may impact your insurance. Tenants must replace all lost keys and security devices at their own expense. If locks must be changed, the Tenant must pay the locksmith’s fee, the cost of the new lock with keys for themselves, Landlord and Agent.
My Rental Property Has Suffered Fire Damage
All tenants, discovering a fire of any size must immediately telephone the fire services before informing you or your estate agent. Should any damage have occurred that you need to claim on your insurance.
Fire damage can make the property uninhabitable. Smoke damage alone poses health risks for tenants. Therefore, they must move out, but who should take responsibility for these associated costs?
In cases where the tenants were the cause of the fire, it’s possible to ask them to cover the costs of repairs. You also have no legal obligation to help them find somewhere else to live, although if your insurance policy covers costs for alternative accommodation, you should speak to your insurers about what you should do next.
In cases where the fire occurred due to your own negligence, you bear responsibility for the cost of repairs. Get in touch with your insurance company straight away. It’s possible you may also need to pay out for any damage incurred to your tenant in terms of their own property and their lost earnings. You may also have responsibility for finding them suitable alternative or temporary accommodation.
In cases of accidental fire, both your tenants and you yourself are responsible for replacing your own property and covering your own repairs.
How Do I Prepare For Emergencies In My Rental Property?
No landlord expects an emergency to arise in their rental property. A few key steps you should take:
- Ensure you’ve given your tenants contact numbers to call in the event of an emergency.
- Emphasise the importance of your tenants taking action immediately in the event of an emergency.
- Ensure a fully comprehensive insurance policy for landlords is in place.
When the team here at PIIM Property manage your property on your behalf. We handle everything that relates to your property and your tenant in the event of an emergency. Call us today on 01207 772033 or email us at info@piim.co.uk to find out more.
