Water damage in apartments occurs frequently and unexpectedly. It’s a problem that all homeowners and landlords experience at some point, and dealing with it can be a complete nightmare. If you possess a rental property, you should be prepared to avoid water damage in the first place and deal with it if it occurs.

This article addresses how to deal with water damage in apartments, what to do while your rental property is vacant, and how to further deal with the water damage restoration process.

Record the Damage

You’ll need documented evidence of the damage and what caused it to file a claim with your insurance company for the costs of repairing and cleaning up water damage. So before you begin the repairs, make sure you have all of the necessary proof in the form of images and videos.

It’s not rare for your tenant to refuse responsibility for the damage. In this instance, it’s still critical to begin repairs right away. You must still keep track of the damage and the expense for tax and security deposit purposes.
Please inquire about the restoration expert’s professional opinion on the problem and note it. If you want to make an insurance claim or take legal action against your tenant, you’ll need this information.

Deciding the responsibility
As the owner, you should manage the property. You must, however, be liable for any damage caused by your irresponsibility. For example, if a pipe leak or faulty plumbing caused the damage, you must complete all repairs.

On the other hand, the tenants must bear responsibility if their carelessness causes harm. The landlord, for example, is not responsible for damage caused by an excess of water caused by residents forgetting to turn off the tap before leaving the premises. In this instance, the tenant is responsible for all charges and must keep the property in good repair. As a result, you must enlist the help of a specialist to resolve such issues.

Work with Your Tenants
Water damage in flats can be highly hazardous if not resolved quickly. The longer it stays untreated, the more damage it does, and microbial growth can occur as soon as 72 hours after water damage. Therefore, when your tenant signs the lease, you should emphasize dealing with the water damage.

You’ll want your tenants to be willing to help with simple things like moving furniture away from the water source and turning off the main water supply if there’s been water damage. They can also assist you with the restoration process if you cannot do so yourself.

Restoration After Water Damage
Regardless of who is at fault, you should resolve the water damage problem as quickly as possible. You can get a water damage restoration firm to help you with the problem. However, even if you want to handle some of the repairs yourself, it’s a good idea to get professional advice.

Regular maintenance
Water damage might be difficult to detect. For example, tenants may see a problem but fail to notify their landlords.

You can readily avoid such occurrences if you have a regular maintenance schedule in place. Inspect the interior and exterior with the help of professionals. You can save a lot of expenses by detecting broken pipes before they cause any damage.

Final thoughts

We must admit that water damage is typical in homes, and it can cause damage to your property ranging from minor to significant. As a result, landlords and house owners need to be aware of any water damage.

You must understand the entire process, from hiring a repair firm to cleaning up. You can teach your tenants how to properly handle a water damage emergency if you communicate with them. Because of this, you will be able to prevent significant damage to your property.