Landlord responsible for fire damage?
Question from Maree updated on 22nd December 2013:
If a rental house burns down due to faulty wiring who is responsible for the damage to the tenant's property? I.e. a car in the driveway destroyed due to the house burning down.
Our expert Diane Nelson responded:
The tenant should have their own insurance policy to cover their own possessions. The landlord is not liable for the losses incurred, however, if the landlord was aware that there had been a ‘problem’ with the wiring and had made no effort to repair, he could be held out as being negligent and liable for all costs.
Diane Nelson has over 14 years experience as a property manager in the Northland region. She now owns the REAL Landlord Insurance NZ Ltd brokerage and for over six years has specialised in the Landlord Preferred Policy,for investment owners who have their properties professionally managed. Diane also runs property management consultancy business Passionate about Property Management.Search the Ask an Expert archive
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