Need some advice on whom is liable for damages on tenanted rental property. I am the owner of this rental. Out of state property manager was notified by tenant of 'water leak from slab in kitchen' at the end of July. Plumber went out and couldn't find leak. This week, 2 months later, the PM sent another maintenance person out and found 2 issues:
1. water leaking from the ice box water line.
2. hole in bathtub floor that wasn't there in August 2017.
Along with that, they provided an estimate for the extensive water damage due to these 2 issues. Both of these water leaks damaged the kitchen base cabinets (brand new and installed in Aug 2017) resulting in moldly cabinets along the inside bases, damaged water resistance vinyl laminate floors in kitchen, damage to living room wood laminate floors, and a bedroom with moldy carpet due to leak from the the hole in bath tub. All need to be replaced.
Who is liable? Of course as the owner I'm leaning toward partial liability to tenant for creating the hole in the tub that leaked water to the bedroom and damaged carpeting; as well as partial liability to PM for waiting 2 months to fix the leaking ice box water line which worsened the wet cabinets that resulted in mold.
PM sent me the estimate and asking how I want to proceed. Besides getting a couple more quotes, the question is who is liable.
I plan on repairing, paying the @$10k, and work with them after the fact. I do not have an attorney.
Thanks
