Water damage to an apartment can be a devastating issue. Not only does it ruin furniture and appliances, but also carpeting and other belongings on-the-spot; but it may also lead to mold and mildew growth in White Plains, Westchester County and NYC.
Identifying Who’s Liable for Water Damage
The initial step in identifying who is accountable for water damage in an apartment is reviewing your lease agreement and understanding your tenant rights and responsibilities. Generally, the landlord is responsible for maintaining and repairing any damages to the building while you hold yourself accountable for personal possessions.
If your apartment is flooded due to something other than an accident on another floor of the complex, it is imperative to determine who is at fault and arrange for repairs. Additionally, contact any insurance providers if applicable for further assistance.
Your lease should contain a clause outlining how to handle such problems. This could involve reaching out to your landlord and informing them of the issue.
They can then take the appropriate action, such as hiring a restoration company like United Restoration Services in Westchester County NY to fix the water issue. They may also request documentation which helps them determine who was at fault and what caused the damage.
Steps to Minimize Damage
Once a leak has occurred, shut off the main water valve to your apartment and drain any standing water from the area. Doing this can help contain the flooding and prevent further destruction. Meanwhile, try your best to clean up as much of the mess as possible.
Depending on how severe the flooding, you may want to move your valuables from the affected area into safer places like a storage unit or another room within the complex. Doing this will protect them from water damage and enable you to get them back as soon as possible.
Your state government may have tenant’s rights laws that can help determine who is accountable in certain situations. This is especially crucial if your lease does not clearly state who is liable for damage sustained.
If your lease agreement is too vague or doesn’t provide for all circumstances, it could cause you a lot of issues down the line. You could end up in small claims court if your landlord refuses to cover any damage claims; otherwise, you could face significant fines and other consequences as a result.
Forgetting About the Leak
Unfortunately, mistakes happen and a large portion of apartment water damage is caused by tenants forgetting about things in their units. A sink or bathtub that’s left running can easily overflow and send floodwaters into other units – particularly in buildings with multiple bathrooms and kitchens located on multiple levels. This issue is especially prevalent among apartment buildings that have many bathrooms and kitchens located throughout them.
Utilizing Appliances Incorrectly
Many water issues in the kitchen are due to poorly made kitchen appliances. This could include faulty components and sinks, faucets, dishwashers that don’t drain properly; additionally it could be slow leaks from ice makers, refrigerators and other appliances.
If you have an apartment, multi family housing, multi family real estate that need water damage restoration in the White Plains, NYC, and Westchester County area contact United Restoration Services for help.
