I thought 2014 was going to be the year where we didn’t have a client who’s condo flooded. Damnit.

 

A client just got home to a soggy condo. Carpet soaked in the bedroom, laminate floor bubbling up water between the cracks with each step.

Added twist: he’s a renter.

So, what do you do when you get home and find your furniture floating?

1. Find out where the leak is coming from ASAP. In this case, it was the neighbour’s dishwasher so all he had to go on before Step 2 was, “It’s not coming from inside my place.”
2. Tell the concierge/property manager/super/whoever is on site. No one around and water is pouring in from your kitchen light? Call 9-1-1. Your neighbour could have fallen or worse.
3. Call your insurance. As a renter, he has a contents insurance package from his insurer. As an owner you’ll have something similar. Let them know this is happening and find out what coverage you have for accommodations during this fun time.
4. Renter: get a hold of your landlord. Have a solution ready since their insurance and your insurance might want to talk with the building’s insurance etc. and you’ll be left standing in the middle of your home with wet socks. Since you know what your insurer is willing to do (or not do) you will be able to at least get the ball rolling with your landlord. NB: Get your agreement in writing! Your landlord is the best person in the world, I know, but a text or an email reiterating what decision you came to is good practice.
5. Owner: You have the added bonus of having to deal with the building’s insurer, your insurer and likely the insurer of your neighbour who’s dishwasher gave up on life. You have a deductible with your insurance, usually in the $500-1000 range. Good and bad news all in one: you’ll likely have to pay it and the rest will be magically taken care of. You might be able to go after your neighbour to cover this deductible but don’t hold your breath.
6. Take photos. Lots of photos. Full photos and then close-ups of damage. The paint might be bubbling around the baseboards. The kick plate under your kitchen cabinets might be delaminating. Pretend your condo is your new obsession (your cat is hiding anyway) and you can’t get enough of it.

Yay for insurers – they know how to make all this go away for you and hopefully are nice on the phone while you’re at it. Keep on them throughout the process to make sure nothing is missed and you’ll get home sooner than later.

Important redundant notes:

• Get your own insurance. Typically the insurance the condo corp. holds is to cover the cost of returning the unit to it’s original condition. You might have bought it with handwoven hemp broadloom and bamboo floors, but the way the unit was originally finished was with shag carpeting and parquet floors. They will just pat you on the head and say “that’s nice” when you talk about how luxurious your carpet was. You’re not getting it back if you have to rely on the building’s insurance.
• Get your own insurance. One client was out of her home for nearly 2 months because the hot water tank in the unit above her’s morphed into an abstract water feature. 2 months. Not kidding. Get insurance. We can hook you up with a pro to talk to if you need to.
• Yo, renter. Get insurance. You like your couch. You like your bed. You’ll miss them when they’re gone.