Landlord Responsibilities during weather-caused power outage

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Landlord Responsibilities during weather-caused power outage

CJ Z.
Saint Louis, MO · Member since 2014 · 12 posts · 3 votes

Hey BP Landlords,


Does anyone have experience with landlord responsibilities during a power outage caused by weather? I had a tree come down on the power line to the multifamily last night. The utility company should be out to fix it soon but there are a large number of outages. 

I have tenants asking to cover hotel expenses or reduced rent and want to know my legal obligation. 

Thanks,
CJ

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Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
Moderator
Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
10y
Typically acts of nature are not a cause for reduced rent. Power lines are not owned by you, no different if power was out on the whole street. If they do not have renters insurance then they are out of luck
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  • Simen Gundersen
    Investor · Oslo, Oslo · Member since 2016 · 86 posts · 17 votes
    10y

    Posting hoping someone will answer. I'm curious of this too

    1Reply
  • Jim C.
    Investor · IN · Member since 2012 · 263 posts · 168 votes
    10y

    @CJ Z. If your tenants have renter's insurance, it should cover the hotel costs. I make it a requirement in my lease agreement. If they don't have renter's insurance then the hotel costs are their responsibility. 

    4Reply
  • Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
    10y
    Typically acts of nature are not a cause for reduced rent. Power lines are not owned by you, no different if power was out on the whole street. If they do not have renters insurance then they are out of luck
    7e investments53 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    5Reply
  • CJ Z.
    OP
    Saint Louis, MO · Member since 2014 · 12 posts · 3 votes
    10y
    Thanks Jim Carson and Chris Seveney , those were my thoughts but I was looking for confirmation. I'll get back to my tenants that they should check with their insurer.
    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    San Jose, CA · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    10y

    Agree.  What they need to have is a "loss of use" rider.  I pay extra for this with my renter's insurance.  It's still really cheap.  They probably don't have it, though, so they'll try and bully you into paying for their hotel.

    We had a tenant have to move out one day because of a sewer backup that flooded her apartment rug partly into a room from the bathroom.  She whined and my too-nice owner agreed to pay for one night's hotel at a local decent, but not-too-expensive hotel.  He had me call around to find out the rates.  We gave her the money.  She took the money and went and stayed with a friend LOL.

    When I went over the contracts with tenants, I'd always point out the clause that said landlord is not responsible for this and that and they should get renter's insurance.  Inevitably they don't.  If I ever managed again, I'd want them to have mandatory loss of use riders.  That seems to be the one type of insurance they need most, and don't have, and then become major pains when you have to explain to them that you're not responsible.

    1Reply
  • Scott Weaner
    Rental Property Investor · Yardley, PA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 561 votes
    10y

    Good Lord! If our power goes out we just deal with it. 

    Maybe if the power goes out at the hotel then all the hotel clients can come stay with your tenant.

    2Reply
  • Mike Hanneman
    Investor · Coeur d'Alene, ID · Member since 2016 · 551 posts · 218 votes
    10y

    A HOTEL!?!? How long has power been out, a couple weeks? If it's just a day that's too funny. I lost power this winter for five days due to a wind storm. Didn't even think of a hotel. Some People?? 

    3Reply
  • CJ Z.
    OP
    Saint Louis, MO · Member since 2014 · 12 posts · 3 votes
    10y

    Thanks for the positive feedback, I'm glad everyone was thinking the same thing. They should have power back today or tomorrow, so total time of 2-3 days. No rent reductions or hotel payments were offered. 

    2Reply
  • David Zheng
    Investor · Saint Louis, MO · Member since 2016 · 970 posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    Glad you mentioned this CJ, I'm from Stl as well and I had not thought of this. those storms were crazy

    0Reply
  • CJ Z.
    OP
    Saint Louis, MO · Member since 2014 · 12 posts · 3 votes
    10y

    You bet @David Zheng, even crazier when they rip the meter box off of the building.

    0Reply
  • Peter MacKercherBusiness Member
    Residential Real Estate Broker · Saint Louis, MO · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 567 votes
    10y

    Hey @CJ Z., as others have advised you're not liable for their loss of use. You're not paying for the repairs so you have no part in when electrical service is returned to their units. I also have a hunch that the leases for your units require them to have renter's insurance which, as others have mentioned, would be what covers the loss of use in this case. 

    I might be a bit late to the discussion but I had to chime in! Good on you for sticking to your guns.

    [email protected]
    0Reply
  • CJ Z.
    OP
    Saint Louis, MO · Member since 2014 · 12 posts · 3 votes
    10y

    Hey @Peter MacKercher. Thanks for chiming in. Your hunch is dead on. Hope your properties didn't sustain any damage in the storm.

    0Reply
  • Peter MacKercherBusiness Member
    Residential Real Estate Broker · Saint Louis, MO · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 567 votes
    10y

    To our knowledge no damage. 

    Chears!!!

    [email protected]
    0Reply
  • Dawn Conklin
    Member since 2023 · 1 post · 0 votes
    3y

    It amazes me how ignorant Landlords and tenants both are.

    If you have elderly people or sick people renting from you, a power outage can be a matter of life or death even if it is only for a couple of hours. 

    In Pennsylvania a lot of people still have well water.


    Being in a power outage with no running water is unsanitary and really not acceptable. 

    Landlords should wise and grow a conscience all though, greed doesn't leave much room for common sense or compassion.

    0Reply
  • Malena Jennings
    Member since 2023 · 1 post · 0 votes
    2y

    0Reply
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