Water damage repairs - is landlord obligated for tenant hotel

[Viney Khera]

Hello, In my single family rental, rooms are rented separately. There was a water damage in upstairs bathroom with toilet leak. While contractor work on repairs, tenant living in downstairs bedroom will have to move out for 2 weeks, while they work on fixing room ceiling baseboard and toilet. He didnt had rental insurance prior to damage but bought rental inurance later. 

Can he ask landlord to cover hotel bills? Is landlord obligated to pay for hotel bills or prorating rent for that period?

Thank you

[Kyle J.]

@Viney Khera Usually your only obligation is to pro-rate the rent and not charge for the period of time the home isn’t habitable and the tenant can’t live there. The tenant can then use the savings from not having to pay rent to get other accommodations until they can return. 

However, the tenant doesn’t get to not pay rent AND have you pay for a hotel. That wouldn’t be fair to you as the landlord at all.