David Schwartz
Every landlord’s worst nightmare is water damage in rental property. Whether it’s just a leak or an unexpected flood, it not only leads to costly repairs and legal concerns but also tenant dissatisfaction and reputation loss!
So, it’s extremely important to be aware of how to deal with and prevent water damage. Being prepared will help you prevent major damage and maintain a positive image in front of your existing and potential tenants.
In this blog, let’s learn all the damage control and preventative steps!
Water Damage in Rental Property: Post-Damage Steps
1. Cease water supply
If the water damage is due to water supply like roof seepage, broken toilets, or burst pipes, shut down the water supply immediately and inform professionals. Use a ladder to reach valves placed high up and turn them off. This can prevent the situation from worsening.
2. Record damage
If you have someone else on your team, ask them to record the scene when you reach. If not, start recording after the previous steps. Shoot clear videos and take multiple pictures from several angles to document the extent of the damage.
These will be useful while claiming insurance. If necessary, take notes about the affected areas and potential damage afterward.
3. Seek the tenant’s help
If the water damage can potentially damage more, seek your tenant’s help to minimize damage. For instance, furniture and appliances should be removed from the water source together. Switch off the electricity supply.
4. Inform insurance provider
Connect with your insurance provider immediately and claim your coverage. Learn how to move forward and what mandatory steps need to be taken.
Follow every step diligently to ensure you get the most coverage. The average insurance payout against water damage is $11,605. However, it can vary based on the damage and insurance type.
If you don’t have it already invest in insurance coverage that offers protection against sudden and accidental water damage.
5. Seek professionals
If it’s just a small area of dampness or a minor leakage, you can fix it yourself. However, if the damage is severe, connect with professionals and let them take care of it.
Water Damage in Rental Property: Landlord’s Water Damage Prevention Tips
1. Conduct regular inspections
The most effective solution for water damage is to prevent it from the get-go. For this, you must conduct the following inspections regularly. Here are some areas to focus on:
Plumbing
Check for drips around sinks, toilets, water boilers, and water heaters. If there’s any issue with the plumbing or the plumbing is old, switch to PEX piping. These resist leakage and reduce the chances of water damage.
If you frequently notice toilet leaks due to flapper and/or fill valve issues, install a motion sensor-based toilet leak prevention device throughout all apartments. These valves fill the toilet tank only when a user enters the toilet. Once the user leaves, the water flow stops.
If a tenant isn’t around for long hours, there won’t be any water flow in the toilet. So, even if there’s a leak, no water flow ensures no wastage!
Roof
Inspect the roof, gutter, and downspouts and remove debris. This eliminates the problem of blocked gutters, which causes water to back up and overflow, leading to roof and foundational damage.
Appliances
Inspect hoses and water appliance fittings as regularly as possible. This way, you can find issues early on and fix them sooner.
2. Seal windows and doors
Seal all the doors and windows throughout the property before the rainy seasons. This will prevent water seepage indoors. Replace both weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows frequently.
If there’s any serious sign of water impact, such as mold growth or excessive warping, change the door/window soon.
3. Install water alarms
Water alarms are small and inexpensive devices to detect water dripping. They can alert both you, the landlord, and your tenant before any damage to the property.
Install water alarms around washing machines, sinks, water heaters, toilets, and other similar areas.
4. Install low-flow showerheads and faucets
High water flow puts great strain on your plumbing system. Over time, this can lead to major damage and even bursts. So, invest in low-flow showerheads and faucets to not only reduce water consumption but also water intrusion risks.
However, occupants often take off the restrictor that reduces the water flow to enhance the shower’s flow. To avoid such instances, invest in a reliable and concealed shower flow controller. This will prevent them from tampering with the showerhead.
5. Invest in protective landscaping
Proper landscaping is another significant way to prevent water concerns. It redirects water away from the foundation of your property.
Embed some plants and shrubs that can absorb excess water near the property. The best vegetation for this cause is deep-rooted plants and native grasses. Grade the lawn to slope away from the main property.
These manage runoff water and prevent water from pooling around or close to the building foundation.
6. Focus on the drainage system
A clogged drain is another serious cause of water infiltration. Appoint a professional to maintain and clean the drainage systems regularly. This prevents clogging and makes the water flow away from the property consistently.
Ensure all gutters and downspouts are secured well to the building. You can also extend downspouts and install French drains to protect the foundation of your building.
7. Apply waterproof materials for specific zones
Specific areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements, are at a huge risk of dampness and other damage. Minimize the risk using waterproof materials, paints, finishes, and sealants.
You can also install moisture-resistant flooring in these areas, including tiles and vinyl.
8. Insulate pipes for colder seasons
During the colder seasons, pipes freeze and burst, causing water seepage. To prevent such mishaps, insulate the exposed pipes in colder zones, such as garages, basements, and attics. This will also reduce your energy consumption and costs.
9. Maintain HVAC systems
HVAC systems with air conditioning units are also common sources of water infiltration. These issues can lead to damaged ceilings, walls, and floors. So, pay special attention to them to prevent moisture-related damage.
Make sure the condensate drains of every AC unit are clear and properly functioning. Schedule timely maintenance for every apartment’s HVAC unit. This ensures no water accumulation or overflowing.
10. Position sump pumps with backup systems
This one is especially important for localities that are prone to flooding and properties with basements. Install a sump pump to collect and guide water away from your property. This reduces the chances of flooding in basements.
For constant protection of your property, install a battery backup system with the sump pump. This makes the sump pump run continuously despite a power outage due to heavy storms.
Further, test the sump pump functionality before the rainy seasons and storms. This will help ensure that the sump pump will work efficiently when necessary.
11. Install dehumidifiers
If your apartments are not yet furnished with dehumidifiers, install one in each apartment. This will prevent damage due to moisture accumulation.
Being the landlord, you must follow these tips for optimum dehumidifier usage:
- Place dehumidifiers around any poorly ventilated and enclosed zones, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms.
- Position the dehumidifier at least 6 inches from the wall for best air circulation.
- Set its humidity levels around 30-50% to deter unwanted moisture, mold, and mildew growth.
- Appoint someone to clean its filter once every few weeks.
12. Get rain diverters
Rain diverters can redirect the flow of rainwater farther from your property’s doors, windows, or any flood-prone zones. So, install rain diverters on your property roof so that the vulnerable areas aren’t too affected by rain.
Water Damage in Rental Property: Tenant’s Water Damage Prevention Tips
1. Spread awareness about damage signs
Educate every tenant about water damage signs such as:
- Damp, dark, yellow, or brown stains on ceilings, floors, and walls.
- Wallpaper or paint bubbling or peeling.
- Swollen or warped walls, ceilings, or floors made of wood or drywall.
- Damp or musty smell in enclosed areas, indicating mold growth.
- Black, white, brown, or green mold on floors, walls, or ceilings.
- Wood or laminate surfaces feel soft or spongy.
2. Remind them to be responsible
Share awareness about responsible usage of property to avoid water damage, such as:
- Close doors and windows during storms. If they’re not home during the storm, they must close doors and windows beforehand.
- Set the thermostat at 12 degrees Celsius if they are away from home to prevent frozen pipes.
- Flush only waste and toilet paper in the toilet. Never drop feminine hygiene products, diapers, cotton balls, swabs, or tissue paper.
- Teach your tenants how to shut off the water supply during emergencies. This ensures quicker addressing of serious water infiltration.
- Report leaks and water damage ASAP.
- Don’t hang dripping wet clothes indoors to avoid moisture buildup and water seepage. Instead, if they want to air-dry clothes, they must choose well-ventilated zones.
3. Share responsibilities with your tenant
Add responsibilities for tenants in the lease agreement with a legal advisor’s help. This must include significant clauses complying with local and state landlord-tenant laws.
It must also contain details about emergency access terms during pipe bursts, including rules for using the property to prevent further damage.
Further, clearly communicate which damages are whose responsibilities
a. Water damage landlord responsibility
Damages due to property defects and natural concerns, including water seepage due to structural issues and heavy rains, are the landlord’s responsibility. However, the landlord is only responsible for fixing the property and not the tenant’s belongings. They must take care of those by themselves.
b. Water damage tenant responsibility
A tenant will be responsible for water damage in a rental property only due to their negligence. These include
- Tenant failing to report obvious water seepage concerns
- Tenant leaving faucet/hose running
- Tenant overloading an electrical outlet
- Not draining pipes or turning off the water supply during winters
- Not following maintenance guidelines, such as unplugging water-related appliances before cleaning
Note: Explain every term in the lease to tenants or let your legal advisor do it. Educate them about their rights and responsibilities to prevent further issues.
4. Encourage them to buy renters insurance
Suggest every tenant invest in renters insurance. Tell them that you’ve taken special measures to prevent the possibility of water seepage, but accidents happen. So, it’s best to keep themselves and their belongings, including electronics and furniture, covered.
Of course, it completely depends on renters whether they want to get insured or not. Don’t be pushy, as it doesn’t affect you, and let them decide for the better.
5. Offer guidelines for certain appliance usage
If you allow occupants to have their own water-using appliances, including dishwashers, washing machines, coolers, and portable air conditioners, guide them on how to use them properly. Ensure their appliances don’t damage your property.
Tell them to regularly check the cleaning filters, hoses, and water pressure and maintain these components properly.
6. Guide them to use ventilation properly
Share the importance of proper ventilation usage with tenants. During showering and cooking, they must turn on the exhaust fans and open windows. This will reduce humidity accumulation indoors and reduce dampness in the apartment.
7. Ensure they use dehumidifiers wisely
Your tenants must also follow some usage and maintenance tips for dehumidifiers. So, send the following list to them via email or print a note and stick it on the appliance.
- Empty the water tank of the dehumidifier regularly for seamless operation. If the humidity is too high in your locality, switch on the continuous drain option. This eliminates the need for frequent emptying of the water tank.
- Don’t change the humidity levels.
- Close the doors and windows when the dehumidifier is turned on to enhance its efficiency.
- Use the dehumidifier without fail during and after storms to prevent indoor humidity.
8. Encourage shower curtain/door usage
During a shower, it’s normal to splash water around. However, the water must be limited to the shower space and not beyond. Otherwise, water may seep into the walls and floors.
This can cause dampness and deterioration of the property’s structural integrity, leading to expensive repair. So, remind your tenants to use the shower curtain (or door) regularly.
Conclusion
These essential steps to deal with and prevent water damage can effectively protect your rental properties. However, don’t try to do it all alone; seek your tenants’ cooperation as well.
And if you’re looking for amazing water damage-preventing solutions, check out our range of different products at The Water Scrooge!
FAQs
1. How often should I inspect my property for water damage?
It’s best to inspect your property at least once every 6 months and, before and after rainy and snowy seasons. Pay special attention to the roof, plumbing, and water heaters.
2. How to know if water damage has led to structural damage?
After water exposure, look for signs of sagging ceilings, warped walls, and uneven floors. These indicate structural damage, and you must seek professional help for further investigation.
3. Does landlord insurance cover water damage?
If the damage occurs due to accidental or sudden situations, landlord insurance policies cover it. It also covers all property damage and landlord’s belongings that were useful for repair.
However, it won’t cover issues that showed signs early on, like gradual leakage, as they could have been prevented. Most landlord property insurance also doesn’t cause damages due to earthquakes, floods, and sewer water backups.
4. Does renters insurance cover water damage?
Renters insurance covers water damage but only for specific conditions such as these.
- Liability: It offers legal expenses when a tenant is held responsible for damaging the landlord’s property. Of course, it doesn’t work for intentional or negligent damages. Based on the insurer, it also covers liability claims, including medical expenses for a guest’s (present on the property) injury or tenant’s accidental damage that also affected another neighbor.
- Personal property: It protects tenants' belongings from water infiltration and other issues like theft.
- Loss of Use: This compensates their living expenses if the apartment is uninhabitable due to the damage and they must stay in a hotel.
5. What to do when there’s water damage due to tenant negligence?
You can usually rely on your homeowner’s insurance for such damages. However, if it’s established that the damage is due to the tenant’s negligence or fault, you can pass the claim to their renter’s insurance.
You must document all damages immediately once they inform you. This ensures they can file insurance claims for their personal property, and you can file structural repair claims soon.
6. What if my tenant reports a leak, but I can’t reach my property?
Guide your tenant to shut off the main water valve and unplug all electrical devices around the water-exposed area immediately. You can contact a plumber from anywhere and take care of the situation.
If you have a property manager, assistant, or any other trustworthy person, ask them to document all damage so you can file claims after returning. However, make sure it’s within 30 days of the incident.
Note: It’s always wise to share the plumber’s and property manager’s contact information before going far away.