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Gießen (pm). Thunderstorms and heavy rain have recently caused flooded basements and houses in many communities. But who is responsible for repairing the damage in a rental property? “In an emergency, the landlord usually has to cover the costs incurred,” explains the Gießen Tenants’ Association.
The landlord must be liable for all damage to the house and must repair it. The landlord must also pay for the associated costs, such as pumping out the basement or removing mud and dirt. But this must be supplemented by natural hazard insurance. If damage occurs to furnishings, the landlord can only be held accountable if he is at fault. If this is not the case, then the tenant’s home contents insurance will cover it. In this case, however, those affected should check their insurance contract very carefully. Often, natural hazard insurance must have been taken out in order for the insurance to settle the damage. The situation is different if the tenant is to blame for the apartment being flooded with water – for example, because of an open window. In this case, the tenant has breached his duty of care and must pay for the damage himself.
“A rent reduction is possible if the apartment can only be used to a limited extent or not at all due to storm damage,” says the tenants’ association.
