Hose Bib Pipe Burst Responsibility?

[Becky Bowe]

I am the landlord of a new construction 4 story row home in Denver, CO.  I was unaware my tenants were keeping a pine tree on the rooftop and watering it with the hose.  I received a call from them that all 4 floors of the home had flooded. The result being confirmed by plumbers that it was a pipe burst from the hose.  Insurance will now not cover it.  The tenants stated on the day it flooded they turned on the hose and left it on for about 5 minutes because nothing was coming out.  Then they walked downstairs and all floors had flooded in the meantime. We are looking at thousands in damage.  I understand this as negligence on the tenants part and they will be responsible for damages.  Does anyone see this differently? 

[Nathan Gesner]

Tenant negligence and they are 100% liable.

Hose bibs are designed to back-flow so they don't freeze. When a hose is left connected, it prevents this from happening and the water remains outside the wall where it can freeze. Your tenant has been leaving the hose connected, allowing it to freeze.

As a personal technique, I remind tenants of this every fall so they can't claim ignorance when a freeze break happens. I also try to inspect properties to see if they are disconnecting hoses.