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Renting an apartment: insurance (legal) question
Posted on 5/22/14 at 10:21 am
Posted on 5/22/14 at 10:21 am
April of 2013 I leased an condo in michigan due to a project that was going to take a year to complete. I was in the condo 3 weeks out of the month until winter hit then that turned into being in the condo 8-10 days out of the month. Every month I would get an email from the Electric company saying I used 3 to 4 times more electricity than my surrounding neighbors. ( never left any lights,tvs, or over unused the AC and always are out). This yr michigan had one of the worst winters in the states history. While at home in Louisiana I get a call from property manager saying a pipe had froze, bust and caused water damage to my apt and 2 other apts, causing 15k in damage. The property owners insurance picked up the bill. Now the insurance company has hired a debt collection company trying to get me to foot the bill saying that it was determined that I was negligent Bc the maintainer guy said thermostat was turned off. I turned it down but not off. Do they have a leg to stand on? Should I hire a lawyer?
Note:debt collection company has my name and number, no other information and I haven't received anything in writing.
TLDR; pipe burst in my condo causing 2 other condos to flood, insurance says I was at fault Bc maintance man said thermostat was turned off now want me to foot the bill. What should I do?
Note:debt collection company has my name and number, no other information and I haven't received anything in writing.
TLDR; pipe burst in my condo causing 2 other condos to flood, insurance says I was at fault Bc maintance man said thermostat was turned off now want me to foot the bill. What should I do?
This post was edited on 5/22/14 at 10:25 am
5
Posted on 5/22/14 at 10:53 am to livewire225
I'd call bullshite. I couldn't imagine it getting cold enough inside your condo to cause a pipe to burst.
Posted on 5/22/14 at 10:58 am to livewire225
Did you have renters insurance? If so direct them to file a claim. If not just ingnore it, if they call you , tell them to stop harrassing you.
Posted on 5/22/14 at 3:04 pm to livewire225
quote:
TLDR; pipe burst in my condo causing 2 other condos to flood, insurance says I was at fault Bc maintance man said thermostat was turned off now want me to foot the bill. What should I do?
If it was turned off, you could be on the hook...
What are the bylaws of the condo, what do they say? Do you have liability insurance? If so, let your insurance protect you and do their job...
Posted on 5/22/14 at 4:31 pm to wickowick
quote:
If it was turned off, you could be on the hook...
Wonder if it could have shut off by itself somehow? Power failure maybe? How could the OP prove he left it on a low (but on) setting?
Even if it was off... I'm not sure a reasonable person would assume that it would get so cold in there as to cause a pipe to freeze INSIDE the apartment. I don't live up there (and the fact it can get that cold is a good reason why) but I would not have thought that could have occured.
I'm also curious why the electric bill was so much higher.
Posted on 5/22/14 at 4:33 pm to livewire225
Also, I'd tell the debt collector to pound sand. You don't have any sort of a valid debt. At this point, you don't owe anyone a dime. If the insurance company feels somehow that you are at fault, they can ask a judge what he/she thinks. How in the world the insurance company can sic a debt collector against you (an insurance company that you don't have any contract with) is beyond me.
Ask the debt collector for a proof of debt, and if they can't provide it (which they clearly cannot) then at that point I believe it is illegal for them to contact you.
Ask the debt collector for a proof of debt, and if they can't provide it (which they clearly cannot) then at that point I believe it is illegal for them to contact you.
Posted on 5/23/14 at 9:41 am to LSUFanHouston
It's really strange to me as well. I haven't personally asked my neighbors what their electricity bill runs but the only thing I can come up with is Bc the condo is on the side of the building? I'm not sure but that's all I can come up with. The condo has a garage on the 1st level and living is all upstairs, the pipe that broke was in the middle of the condo. No renters insurance other than homeowners. But from what I understand renters insurance only covers personal property. I haven't heard from the DCC in a week or so but the last time I talked to them I told them I would have my attorney contact them. They keep a asking for my address to send me notification but I don't think it's my place to provide that considering they are coming after me, or Atleast trying to.
Thanks for y'all's insight.
Thanks for y'all's insight.
Posted on 5/23/14 at 9:47 am to livewire225
Where is your condo relative to the others? IE are you surrounded on all sides or on the end/upstairs?
edit: Didn't read lol. Side condos can get really hot or cold depending on the construction. It's very possible that the scenario played out like it did. Get real cold and pipes burst.
edit: Didn't read lol. Side condos can get really hot or cold depending on the construction. It's very possible that the scenario played out like it did. Get real cold and pipes burst.
This post was edited on 5/23/14 at 10:09 am
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