Whole apartment block without water and Electricity

kranky

I rent out my apartment as I moved abroad. A big pipe in the building burst and the whole apartment building has no water and electricity. We’ve been told it will be 2 days before they can fix it. If the tenants look for compensation is that on me or management of the building? or should they have renters insurance as is required where I now live.

Mrs OBumble

You.

And you in turn look for compensation from the management company, or perhaps from your landlord insurance.

Buddy Bubs

What kind of compensation do you think is in order for 2 days of inconvenience? Financial compensation? For what?

Might lose some food in a fridge or freezer and have to buy some drinking water and candles/ battery lamps maybe wash somewhere else but I don't think I'd be either looking for money for this as a renter or would I be happy paying out as a landlord.

They're not moving into a hotel or anything i presume

Jim_Hodge

What compensation for 2 days? FfS, people were without power & water for weeks after the last storm.

MarkR

I'd imagine for a hotel stay? No water and no power for something outside of their control is a lot.

Victor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123190233#Comment_123190233

Some people are dependent on water and electricity for their medical needs.

thebiglad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123188863#Comment_123188863

If you did recover compensation from the management company then, it would go onto your bills next year - the management fees fund the running of the block, they don't turn a profit or surplus.

How, has the management company been negligent in the pipe bursting - unless you have a specific allowance for disruption in your lease (unlikely), or the MC were directly negligent then you have no recourse.

You may have an option via your buildings/contents insurance but, will be subject to excess and restrictions.

As others has said, it is 'just' 2 days - go out to work/library during the day and shower with friends or at a local hotel/leisure centre or, if you are lucky enough, at your workplace.

If you are determined to get compo from someone, look at why/how the pipe was damaged - if it was works then you may have an option there.

ted1

tell them they are free to move out, that you won’t make them serve their notice period.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123190294#Comment_123190294

And? That applies to any situation with a loss of power. Compensation doesn't necessarily follow.

Xterminator

I believe the RTB leaflet "Being a Good Tenant" says "accommodation must be in good condition : availability of hot/cold water, [...] electricity [...]" and that "tenants must be reimbursed by the landlord of any repairs that are carried out"

Going off that you can understand the tenants at least asking the question. Not a lot of sympathy here for the tenants who had 2 miserable days.

I would personally ask them to provide receipts for any extra expenses they incurred, eg purchasing water etc., and that's going to be minimal. i would not be offerin 2/30ths of the months rent or anything like that.

dennyk

As an owner, you are a shareholder in the OMC, so your question is really "Is that on me or on me?" 😀

Really though, your tenant likely isn't due any compensation from you (or the OMC) unless the burst pipe was caused by negligence or action wasn't taken to fix the problem in a reasonable period of time. Failures and service interruptions happen and are often outside of anyone's control. If the problem is being repaired as quickly as reasonably possible, then you are not in breach of your legal obligations and the tenant has no cause of action.

Renter's insurance is not a legal requirement here, but if the tenant does have insurance, it's possible their policy might cover some of the additional costs they incurred as a result of this unexpected damage, such as the cost of their spoiled food in the fridge/freezer.

Marcusm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123190233#Comment_123190233

That was an act of god. I’d agree with you that there would be a high bar but, for example, if the management company had long knowledge of a potential failure and took no steps to deal with the issue (assuming funds were available) then at a minimum I would expect the OMC directors to have a discussion with the managing agent about a fee rebate.

That being said, the last place I rented in London occasionally suffered water losses due to pump failure predicated on electricity problems. There were only 25 flats in the building with only 6 of them occupied. The OMC rented 6 rooms in the hotel next door and gave us individual keys so we could use the loos and/or showers. It was an expensive rental.