Who is Responsible for Water Damage in Your Condo?

7/17/2019 (Permalink)

Who is Responsible for Water Damage in Your Condo?

Let’s say you come home to your Indianapolis condo after a long at work and find that water is flowing down the stairs that go to your condo. You walk into your condo and find your carpets are soaking wet and there is water flowing down your wall. You might be wondering who is responsible for all this damage to your condo, the hallway, the stairs, and as you learn later, the water damage in the condo below yours? Well, there is no one answer. It may be you, it may be the condo owner above you, or it may be the HOA or landlord. In this blog, we will help determine who is responsible for water damage and who to call to get it all cleaned up.

Ask to See Your Condo’s Master Insurance Policy

Before any disaster happens, you will want to be familiar with your condo’s master insurance policy. This policy should be available from your condo board, condo HOA, and/or landlord. This insurance policy is what protects the areas outside of your actual residence. These could include the roof, the common hallways & stairways, and the exterior walls of the actual building. It’s important to note where your responsibility begins, and their’s ends. 

With walls between residences, the actual line may be the middle of the wall. Even with exterior walls and roofs, the line between your responsibility and the condo board could be in the middle. The reason why it’s essential to know the exact area that you are responsible for is to ensure that your home insurance policy covers that exact area. Having this info is important because if your policy falls short of the area that you are responsible for - you could end up owing lots of money.

So Who is Responsible for Water Damage to Your Condo

Now that you know the areas that the condo’s master insurance policy covers and the areas that your insurance policy covers, you can then determine who is responsible. But first, you need to know where the water that is causing the damage began. If the water is coming from rain waters that are dripping through a hole in the roof, then the condo is most likely responsible. If the water is coming from a leaking pipe behind your bathroom wall, then it depends on whether the master insurance policy clearly states who is responsible for that area. 

In instances, where the pipe is in the middle of a wall, and the policy divides responsibility in the middle of the wall, you may find yourself and the condo board pointing fingers at each other. This gray area is where it could become quite frustrating if you have a condo board or landlord who isn’t cooperating. 

In another instance, if the water is originating from another residence, then that residence’s insurance policy is most likely responsible for all the damage that has occurred. However, your insurance company might also need to be involved and seek reimbursement from the other residence’ insurance company.

You may also find yourself using your policy to repair water damage in your apartment, while the condo HOA uses its policy to repair the leaking roof. A  situation where your policy and the condo’s master insurance policy won’t cover any water damage is when it is a result of flooding. If you are in a flood-prone area, you will usually need a flood insurance policy to cover any costs that may occur as a result of a flood. 

If Water Damage Occurs, Act Quickly 

If your Indianapolis condo should experience water damage, it’s essential to act fast as mold can start to grow within 48 hours of the water damage. If the water originated from outside your residence, contact your condo management immediately. If the water came from another apartment, try to get in touch with them to work with their insurance company. Ultimately, you want to contact a water damage restoration company, like SERVPRO of Indianapolis West, as soon as possible and worry about the responsible insurance party later. The professionals at SERVPRO of Indianapolis West are ready to respond 24/7. They can act quickly to get the water damage cleaned up, and your condo dry before further damage has had time to occur. If there is mold damage or other damages to your condo, they have the equipment and tools to help with it all.