Tenant Floods Condo, Landlord Has to Pay

B.S. from Hartford County writes:

Dear Mister Condo,

Who is responsible for water damage in my condo? A tenant left the water running causing damage but the condo association is not willing to submit it as a claim.

Mister Condo replies:

J.S., I am sorry to learn that your tenant has damaged your condo and/or neighboring units. That may be considered a criminal activity and I suggest you submit a police report and seek remedy from them under the law. You may likely be able to sue them for the damage and even seek criminal mischief charges against them. As for your condominium association refusing to seek relief in the form of an insurance claim, I actually fully agree. This wasn’t an accident; this was a willful act of destruction that the insurance would likely not cover. Additionally, as the damage is directly attributable to your tenant, you are on the hook for the damage to your own and neighboring units. It is possible you have insurance that you may make a claim against to cover the damage. If not, I guess you might consider this a lesson in being a landlord. Strong background checks and substantial security deposits in case the tenant causes damage are good renting policies. Good luck finding a better tenant next time.