SusanB16 (Illinois)
Posts: 7
Posts: 7
Posted:
I am the president of a small condo association (6 units). Last summer, a washing machine malfuction on the third floor caused water to cascade down three floors into the basement (and into my storage unit). The owner called a plumber, as extremely apologetic, and spent a good deal of time helping me clean up and offering clean up assistance to the owners two units under her. The unit on the first floor is currently undergoing renovation, the unit on the second floor is rented. The 3rd owner offered to call in her insurance company, but the two other owners said the damage was minimal. Under our bylaws, owners are responsible for what is not covered by the master policy, and both were adament that they did not want to notify the insurer of the master policy.
Several months passed and then owner number two announced that his renters had property that had gotten wet and they wanted to be compensated. The third floor owner felt (as did I) that they should have carried renters insurance for their private property. Also, she was upset that so much time had passed and that her initial offers to bring in the insurance companies was rejected. Apparently, the 2nd floor owner (their landlord) compensated them. Now, a full six months after the flood, this owner is saying that he has plaster damage and damage to his hardwood floors and wants the woman upstairs to pay for repairs. She thinks this is unfair. In the interum, she has changed carriers for her personal insurance and feels that the former insurance company is unlikely to pay off given the long delay and the lack of any evidence of the original flood.
So - - - how is something like this to be handled? I feel that we should have notified the master policy insurer and the 3rd floor owner should have brought in her insurer from the beginning. Is 3rd floor owner liable at this late date? Was she responsible to the renters?
Any advice would be welcomed.
Several months passed and then owner number two announced that his renters had property that had gotten wet and they wanted to be compensated. The third floor owner felt (as did I) that they should have carried renters insurance for their private property. Also, she was upset that so much time had passed and that her initial offers to bring in the insurance companies was rejected. Apparently, the 2nd floor owner (their landlord) compensated them. Now, a full six months after the flood, this owner is saying that he has plaster damage and damage to his hardwood floors and wants the woman upstairs to pay for repairs. She thinks this is unfair. In the interum, she has changed carriers for her personal insurance and feels that the former insurance company is unlikely to pay off given the long delay and the lack of any evidence of the original flood.
So - - - how is something like this to be handled? I feel that we should have notified the master policy insurer and the 3rd floor owner should have brought in her insurer from the beginning. Is 3rd floor owner liable at this late date? Was she responsible to the renters?
Any advice would be welcomed.