BUILDING BURNED DOWN AND NO RENTER'S INS

[George C.]

My rental condo building burned down and my tenant doesn't have renter's insurance, my loss will likely be covered by my insurance and the building's policy, is there anything I can do to help the tenant as they have lost everything? Never experienced anything like this and not sure what my responsibilities are? Any ideas and suggestions would be helpful thank you!

[Scott M.]

First off, I am sorry this happened to you.  The shock of it happening doesn't get easier as you go through it again (if you do) but what you learn from this experience will help you down the road.  We have been through this a couple times over the past 20 years....doesn't get easier.  

As to your tenant, yes, there is plenty you can do just depends on how much you want to do.  Your question wasn't what can you do VS what must you do.  You can get them a hotel for a few days, a few weeks, a few months until they can get with family or a new place.  You can give them money.  You can create a gofundme or help them created their own.  You can help research local charities for them to get shelter, clothes, food.  You don't want to say this is a good learning experience, although it is.  If you have any other rentals you should email / call / text every tenant and tell them about this experience and encourage those who do not have insurance to get it.  

We did just that after one client had a fire, not a complete loss but about $50K of damage.  The tenant was fine but not all of our owners at that time had insurance....about 2 months later every client had insurance because of this story.  One had a complete loss at a vacant property within 1 month of getting insurance.  So that experience helped a lot of owners do the right thing.  In your case, can help you other tenants if you have any.

Probably a lot I am missing, the only other advice I would give is get a public adjuster to help you with the insurance claim.  We have had very positive results with them.