Most renter’s insurance policies cover damage that occurs to your house because you don’t want to put the cost on yourself. When something goes wrong, repairs cost money, and your security deposit is insufficient. That’s where renters insurance comes in handy like housing disrepair claims. If you’re lucky enough to have it, know what damages it pays for before buying a house.
Here is what to do if your rented house has structural issues.
1. You will have to make repairs
Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about it. It is not something that should be taken lightly. If the damage is significant, you may even consider renting a hotel room until things are fixed if you have a lease.
2. Do request an insurance checkup if there was any damage done to the structure of your house, particularly in its foundation and walls
If the structure of your home has been damaged in any way, you should get an inspection by a professional as soon as possible. You do not want to face unexpected expenses in your home or apartment/homeowners insurance payments after discovering property damage during an inspection.
3. Take pictures of everything
This is one of the easiest ways to get paid faster. Hire a professional to inspect the damages, and they will give you proof, but you should take photos. Take them before and after. During the repairs, you can even take pictures to show what was wrong, what was fixed, and what still needs to be done. Save these for your records because you will be using them later in a claim filing.
4. Make sure that you inform your landlord
If there was any damage done to your house, you should let your landlord know. They will want to make sure that everything is taken care of and that they are not held responsible for any damages. It will also be a chance to remind them of the time frame you have paid up to:
5. Make sure that you have a watchman
Keep track of when the repairs are supposed to be completed. You will want to make sure the work gets done so that you do not have too much downtime in your home and it becomes unsafe. Also, if anything goes wrong while repairs are being made, you will want an extra set of eyes on the house. It is not uncommon for people to enter homes without notice or permission, even in high-crime areas like certain hotels.
6. Keep receipts and records
Save all receipts of anything that was repaired to your home. It would help if you had these to file a claim with the insurance company later on for them to reimburse you for the damages that were done. If you break anything or damage anything at home, take pictures now so you can save receipts for proof purposes later on.
It is always better to be safe than sorry. If you suspect that your house has structural issues, take the time to get it checked out. You will be protected by renters insurance, but only if the damage was done before the start of your lease. You do not want your landlord to think that they have to pay for damages because you did not take care of an issue earlier in the lease.
7. Replace your locks
Make sure that you change the locks of your home after making any repairs to the house. It is not uncommon for someone to take advantage of the fact that you are a renter and burglarize your house. If you are unsure which type of lock you should get, check here.