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Does Landlord Insurance Cover Tenant Negligence in Georgia?

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A window in a rental property is broken due to tenant negligenceStories from landlords detailing the impact of the damage left by tenants can be horrifying. Unfortunately, finding that your previous tenants have trashed your property, causing thousands of dollars of damage, is not entirely uncommon. Landlords will be responsible for finding new tenants and repairing the damages from the previous tenants before the new tenants move in. You may wonder if landlord insurance can help pay for the repairs. Unfortunately, many landlord insurance policies will not cover damages incurred by tenants.

Luckily, there are other avenues of recuperating compensation for tenant damages. If you need help reviewing your tenant negligence case in Georgia, contact Attorney Ali Awad, ‘the CEO Lawyer,’ and his team of experienced personal injury attorneys. The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law firm has quickly become one of the fastest-growing law firms in the U.S. If you need assistance with your landlord-tenant case, The CEO Lawyer provides free, no-obligation consultations. If we take your case, you will not pay anything until we win.

Does Insurance Cover Tenant Damage?

Does landlord insurance cover damages left by tenants? This is a common question many property owners face. However, whether or not landlord insurance will cover tenant damages will largely depend on the nature of the damage, as well as specific policy coverages. Tenant damages can be categorized as either intentional, accidental, or general wear and tear. Landlord insurance will only cover accidental damages.

Accidental Tenant Damage

Suppose a tenant accidentally caused damage to your property by allowing pipes to freeze and burst or starting a grease fire. In that case, your landlord insurance will likely cover the damages, but this will largely depend on your insurance policy.

Intentional Tenant Damage

Unlike accidental tenant damage, intentional damage includes all damages done intentionally. This can consist of holes in walls, graffiti, broken doors, and more. If your tenant left intentional damages to your property, you would likely turn to their security deposit to cover the damage. Additionally, you may choose to sue your tenant for damages in some circumstances.

Wear and Tear

Unlike accidental or intentional tenant damages, general wear and tear damage is extremely common and may be caused by even the best of tenants. Everyday living may cause scratches, scuffs, dents, and stains to the home. This type of damage is unlikely to be avoided. Landlord insurance will not cover wear and tear damage or general maintenance. The security deposit should cover this type of damage.

What Can You Do About Tenant Damages?

If you are left with wear and tear or intentional damage to your property by your tenant, you cannot pay for damages from an insurance claim. However, this doesn’t mean you have no recourse to pay for the damages. Find some of the options you may have as a property owner below:

Security Deposit

Security deposits are designed to be available if a tenant has left damages to your property. Hopefully, the security deposit will cover wear and tear damage. Ensure that you follow all procedures and laws determined by the state where you reside regarding using the security deposit to cover tenant damages to avoid potential legal issues.

Sue for Damages

If your tenant left intentional damages, the security deposit might not cover all of the damages. Suppose you have utilized all the security deposit, and there are remaining expenses left over to repair the damage left by the tenant. In that case, you may either cover the costs yourself or sue the tenant for damages. However, consider that pursuing legal action is often expensive and time-consuming and should only be used as a last resort.

Eviction

In many cases, landlords will only discover damages to their property after a tenant has left the residence. However, if a tenant is intentionally damaging your property while still residing in your property, you will need to get the tenants to vacate the premises. Eviction proceedings will vary from state to state. As there can be many nuances regarding tenant eviction law, it is often best to work directly with an experienced attorney to avoid getting into legal trouble and resolve any issues as quickly as possible. Contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm to discuss your options for recourse.

How Can Landlord Insurance Help With Tenant Damages?

Depending on the specifics of your policy, landlord insurance will likely only cover accidental tenant damage. However, landlord insurance may also cover a scenario in which the tenants caused so much damage that your property is unlivable or unable to be rented out. If you have a loss of rental income coverage, your landlord insurance may reimburse you for rent during the repair of your property. Damages will need to be covered by you or from the security deposit.

Does Landlord Insurance Cover Tenant Belongings?

No, landlord insurance will only cover damages to the property due to natural disasters or accidents and not damage to any personal belongings. Tenants should hold renter’s insurance to ensure their property is covered.

How Can You Prevent Tenant Damages?

The best way to prevent tenant damages is by successfully screening potential tenants to weed out any tenants with a negative track record or who do not have an excellent rental history. Good screening practices can significantly reduce the chance of damages occurring beyond reasonable wear and tear.

If the security deposit does not cover general wear and tear, itemize your damages and provide the tenant with a bill detailing the remaining costs. Tenants will be more likely to pay for damages incurred if they promptly receive a detailed bill indicating how much they will need to pay to cover the damages.

Finding the Right Landlord Insurance

Landlord insurance will not cover all landlord damages, but it will protect you and your property from events such as:

  •   Water damage
  •   Fires
  •   Freezing pipes
  •   Hail
  •   Windstorms
  •   Natural Disaster
  •   And more.

Landlord insurance may cover accidental damages left by tenants and help you financially recover from lost rent due to tenant damages. Ensure that you understand your landlord insurance policy and select the best coverages to ensure that you are adequately covered.

Landlord Liable for Tenant Negligence

So, is a landlord liable for tenant negligence? Unfortunately, if your tenant damaged your property and your damages exceed the amount of the security deposit, you will be liable for financially covering all repairs. You may opt to take your tenant(s) to court to attempt to recover your lost damages. However, the legal process can be confusing, costly, and lengthy. If you seek to recover compensation for damages to your property left by a tenant, the best thing to do is to contact an experienced attorney to discuss options available to you.

If you are experiencing trouble with a current or former tenant involving property damage, contact attorney Ali Awad, ‘the CEO Lawyer,’ at (833) 254-2923. or contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm online to receive a free and confidential case evaluation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

After a personal injury, you're bound to have legal questions. The CEO Lawyer Ali Awad can provide you with answers to these questions, just as he's given answers to his millions of curious social media followers. Take a look at some of the most common personal injury law questions for general information, and then reach out to one of our seasoned attorneys for specific guidance on your case!

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Help Negotiating with Insurance Carriers

To quickly resolve matters following an accident, insurance companies will offer you less than you deserve in compensation for your injuries. Many victims feel pressured to accept these offers as the bills begin to pile up, but that is rarely a good idea. The insurance company is looking to protect its bottom line; and will offer injured victims less than they deserve. An experienced personal injury attorney understands how to negotiate with the insurance company and can look out for your best interests by getting you the compensation you deserve after an injury. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, it is important to avoid negotiating or providing recorded statements to the insurance company without first seeking help from a qualified personal injury attorney.

Do You Have a Personal Injury Case?

The best way to determine if you have a personal injury case is to speak with a knowledgeable attorney. Our legal professionals have the expertise to evaluate your case and determine a strong legal strategy so that you can obtain the greatest amount of compensation possible under the law. We will enlist investigators, assistants, and other specialists to collect accident reports, speak with witnesses to your accident, and put together a plan. While you focus on your physical recovery, we will remain committed to fighting for the compensation that you deserve.

Georgia's Personal Injury & Accident Firm

Accident victims have a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit. This time period is referred to as the statute of limitations, and in Atlanta, it lasts only two years. This means that if you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, you have only two years to pursue a personal injury suit. If you wait too long to reach out to an experienced attorney, you might be forever barred from seeking the compensation you deserve.

What to Expect From Your Initial Consultation With a Personal Injury Attorney?

During your initial consultation with CEO Lawyer team, we will go over the important details of your personal injury accident, which include the nature and extent of your injuries, how your injuries have impacted your ability to earn a paycheck, the cost of your medical treatment, and whether further medical treatment will be required. We will answer any questions you might have, as well, in regards to our experience, our track record of success, and what to expect from the legal process. Many personal injury victims wonder if they will be able to afford the legal fees required to pursue a lawsuit. CEO Lawyer injury and accident attorneys will not ask for any type of upfront fee unless we are successful in obtaining compensation for you. That means that if you have been harmed in a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall accident, defective product accident, or any other type of personal injury accident, you can absolutely afford to contact our law office today for assistance. In fact, you cannot afford to wait. Reach out today. We understand that some accident victims might have already obtained the assistance of an attorney but may be dissatisfied with the services provided. We are standing by and prepared to help you change legal representation, regardless of where you are in the process.

Speak to an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in any type of personal injury accident, you should not hesitate to speak with the experienced attorneys at CEO Lawyer personal injury law firm. Call, email, or fill out our online contact form today so that we can begin helping you pursue the compensation you deserve.