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What happens when a burglar breaks in to your rented home and not only steals your stuff, but damages property (like the front door) too? Who pays for the damages -- you or your landlord?
While no one wants to think about the unfortunate situation of their home being burglarized, it's something both homeowners and renters alike should consider.
Generally speaking, both landlords and tenants may end up paying for damages stemming from a burglary. Here's an overview of what you need to know:
The first question a tenant may be asking after a burglary is: How do I replace the items that were stolen?
The first place to check should be your lease, which may spell out what happens to a tenant's possessions in this situation. Sometimes, a tenant may have already purchased renter's insurance, if required by the lease, in which case the tenant's belongings would be covered under that.
As a general rule, a tenant should have his personal property insured. That's because the landlord's insurance will probably not cover tenant property losses for items that aren't in an apartment building's common areas (such as a lobby).
However, there are cases when a landlord could potentially be liable. For example, if a landlord didn't act with due care -- in maintaining common areas, or in taking proactive security measures that a reasonable landlord would take (like making sure all locks are working) -- then a tenant may be able to argue that the landlord should have to pay for the burglary.
What about damage to the property itself? This would depend on a number of considerations, such as:
Also, if a tenant's own negligence somehow caused the break-in (like if a tenant left his door unlocked and wide open) or exacerbated the damages, then a tenant's recovery could potentially be reduced.
For more guidance on who's liable for burglary damages in a landlord-tenant situation, you may want to consult an experienced landlord-tenant lawyer near you.
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