Natural disasters can arise at any place and at any time. Whether a tornado, flood, earthquake, or fire, natural disasters cause extensive property damage and displace thousands of people every year. When a natural disaster comes and wreaks havoc on a rental property, landlords have the responsibility to do more than just repairing the damage to the rental home. The characteristics of these responsibilities depend on whether your Alpharetta property is still habitable or not.
As an owner, you acknowledge that all rental homes must be suited for human habitation. The location of the property doesn’t matter; all rentals must provide a tenant with water, heat, electricity, and a sanitary and structurally safe building. While the exact regulations may change from location to location, some of them demand that the rental home meet certain standards. If these standards aren’t met, a tenant is under no obligation to pay rent and may even cancel the lease. They may also be entitled to have their security deposit returned to them immediately and in full.
So, when a rental home is damaged by fire, flood, or any natural disaster in Alpharetta, the magnitude of the damage must be assessed immediately. The damage must be thoroughly documented, in case any questions would arise. If the damage is minimal and the tenant will be displaced for a couple of days or weeks, your job as an owner is to repair the destruction immediately. Your tenant may still be compelled to fulfill the terms of the lease, as well as pay to mend or substitute their own personal property.
If for some reason, the damage is extensive, or the repairs will take several months or more, it is the responsibility of the owner to determine how to handle the lease. If the home is uninhabitable, you may be required to release your renter from the lease and return the security deposit in full. A tenants’ security deposit cannot be used to pay for damages caused by a natural disaster. Furthermore, if the natural disaster strikes close to the beginning of the month or immediately after a month’s rent has been paid, the landlord may have a responsibility to return that month’s rent to the renter.
Knowing how to manage the outcome of a natural disaster and what measures to take regarding the lease, rental payments, and security deposits is something the experts at Real Property Management Executives Greater Atlanta have a great deal of experience with. With our business on your side, you can stay unruffled and satisfied in the knowledge that even when disaster hits, your Alpharetta rental premises are in right hands. Please contact us online or call us at 678-765-8383 to know more.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
