Circuit breaker with known issues failed, food lost. Property manager responsible?

[J. B.]

I am a small-time landlord myself, but I have a relative who is a tenant in a very large apartment complex.  The complex is relatively new, being only a few years old.  The circuit breakers throughout this very large complex have had known ongoing problems, and the management company has only been replacing individual circuit breakers when they act up.

My relative was out of town, and the circuit breaker failed relative to the electrical outlet that powers their refrigerator.  Is the property management responsible for the replacement cost of all spoiled food considering the management knew of the problems with the troublesome circuit breakers, but they were only replacing them at the time of each individual failure?  My relative's unit has had a couple of the circuit breakers replaced already.

[Bill B.]

If they would have tested this breaker the day before it failed, it would have passed. They did what every single home owner in America would have done. They replaced items as they failed. It would be ridiculous to expect the landlord to replaced every circuit breaker in every unit in a “very large apartment complex” because some were failing. They probably have microwaves and garbage disposals failing all the time too, should they all be replaced? Every single one? Maybe all the refrigerators too, the source of the spoiled food. 

Every year at a very large apartment building is like 100-200 years in a private home. They probably average at least one repair every day, even in a relatively new complex. 

This would definitely be covered by renter’s insurance. If that insurance company thought the landlord was responsible they would go after them for your relative. They can certainly asked but treat any amount of money as a gift or goodwill gesture and expect a hard no. Especially if they require renter’s insurance to rent from them.