How To Handle A Flood In Your Apartment Complex

5/13/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage from a flood in your apartment complex can make units impossible, and even unsafe, to live in, and can even ruin personal property permanently. No matter the size of the flooding, it can have long-lasting consequences, both to you as the owner and to your residents. 

Here are some important tips on how to handle a flood in your apartment complex:

• Safety. Safety is always the very first consideration in any emergency situation. Even the most minor flooding event can create unsafe conditions, such as washing out walkways or causing deep potholes in the parking areas, so you will want to inspect your grounds thoroughly to identify any unsafe situations that have become an issue. Log these observations and take plenty of pictures and videos, and make sure that your residents are notified to stay clear. 
• Inspections. Visit each affected unit to see what kind of damage there may be. Pay special attention to mold infestations, especially. Wet surfaces are fertile environments for mold, which can further damage the apartment and create substantial health hazards.
• Responsibilities. You will be responsible to repair the damage up to a point. Be aware of your tenants’ rights, as well, and always do the right thing (It’s good advertising)! Some residents may be under the impression that the owner is liable for the replacement of personal property, for example, and this may not be true in every instance, so knowing the laws will really help here. The principles that support the rights of tenants are pretty much the same in every state, with each state varying in some of the specific details. You or your residents can consult the local housing authority or a tenants’ rights organization if there are any disagreements or if clarification is needed. 
• Rent Payments. If a resident has to leave their unit due to severe water damage, they do not have to pay rent for that particular month or until their apartment is completely repaired. In addition, if the apartment is totally destroyed they can request to cancel their lease if they do not want to move to another unit.
• Professionals. After you have ensured that the safety of all involved is secured and you know where the repairs need to be made, call in a professional repair company with the expertise and equipment needed to get you back to normal as soon as possible. You are required by law to get these repairs completed in a timely manner and to ensure that units are fit to live in, so make sure you use a company that has a great reputation for thorough and timely completion of all projects.

Here at SERVPRO of Hermitage/Donelson, we have the experience and skill you need to get your apartment complex back to pre-flood condition as soon as possible! We are water damage, fire damage, and mold remediation experts.