Emergency water shut-off to property, what to do with tenants?

Question

Hi,

Someone or something backed into an external pipe causing it to burst. I had to shut off water to the entire property otherwise water just flows into street. I have a plumber coming to look at it but im worried they may not be able to fix it on the spot. The inside of the units are fine, we just cant turn the water on or else it just floods into the street

If the units have no water, im assuming we would have to have tenants move to a motel/hotel? Would i just refund them the daily rental amount for the days they cannot be in their units?

I am in California

any help is greatly appreciated!

Brie Schmidt · Answer

I would check your lease. I would expect the landord to pay for accommodations until the unit is deemed to have working utilities required to live.

Colleen F. · Answer

You can offer pro-rata for the impacted days. You can shower at the gym, you can drink bottled water but you might want to consider water and toilets if they stay. you don't want clogs. For a well failure we were able to tie in to a neighbors supply with a hose, bulk water delivery is also possible in some areas but your problem being the piping neither of those options may be a solution.

Dick Rosen · Answer

In AZ we don't have to give them anything but we do chose to give them a pro-rated rent credit if they decide to go elsewhere. We've found that some would prefer to just stay and deal with it just like a homeowner would have to do. I've never had an emergency like this take more than a day or 2 to correct, even a replacement AC unit on the roof with a crane service needed can be arranged in a couple of days.

Brie Schmidt · Answer

In Chicago it doesn't matter the daily rate. We have to put them in reasonable accommodations regardless of the cost

Robert Lee · Answer

Thank you for the reply.

While the lease does not specifically say what would happen in this case, I would assume the landlord would only have to pay up to the amount of the daily rate? For example, is their daily rate $50/day, and their accommodations cost more than that per day, would landlord only be responsible for $50/day?

Emergency water shut-off to property, what to do with tenants?

Emergency water shut-off to property, what to do with tenants?

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