Fire at rented property

evs32

Hi, I'm hoping someone can offer some advice on the situation I'm in...

I'm currently renting a property with two of my mates, I am due to move out next week and another one of my mates is taking my place.

Last week we had a fire in the garage which was started by a cigarette, the damage is superficial and there is no structural damage. After speaking to the landlord we hired a skip and cleared the debris, we also paid for the electrics to be fixed.

We have been in contact with the landlord (who lives in the states) and the letting agents during the last week but have so far managed to get nowhere. The landlord originally told us he would speak to his insurers and give us permission to speak to them but since then he has said that he is in a dispute with his insurerers because they are questioning why he is letting the property out and not in the country (sounds as though he doesn't have the proper insurance?)

Does anyone know what would happen if he doesn't have the proper insurance and where we stand due to the fact the fire was our fault.

Another issue is where we stand with the SD, as I'm moving out next week I was hoping to get this money back but now obviously know this won't be happening anytime soon - shall I basically forget about ever getting this back (and the reimbursements from the elec and skip costs)??

Any advice is greatly appreciated as I really don't know what to do right now!

Thanks

Fire_Fox

If the fire was your (joint) fault you are ultimately liable, even if any costs were claimed from insurance they could chase the responsible party. What else needs to be done other than the clearing and fixing the electrics, both of which you have paid for anyway?

Is your damage deposit lodged with one of the three schemes and did you receive the prescribed information at the start of the tenancy?

evs32

Thanks for your reply.

There are a few windows and wooden cladding that needs to be replaced.

Yes, the deposit is lodged within one of the schemes.

Do you know what the situation would be if the lld wasn't covered by insurance?

If he was would he not just take the excess fee from the deposit?

When we spoke to the firemen who attended they said that the insurance should cover it as accidental damage and that the insurance company very rarel ask for the fire report.

G_M

If insured, the insurer might chase you for the cost as the responsible party.

If uninsured (soundslike the landlord has a standard residentialpolicy) then... you are still the responsible party. The LL can claim any and all costs of you. If the deposit isnot enough to cover the costs, he can ask you to pay the extra. If you don't, he can take you to court.

Fire_Fox

evs32 wrote: »

Thanks for your reply.

There are a few windows and wooden cladding that needs to be replaced.

Yes, the deposit is lodged within one of the schemes.

Do you know what the situation would be if the lld wasn't covered by insurance?

If he was would he not just take the excess fee from the deposit?

When we spoke to the firemen who attended they said that the insurance should cover it as accidental damage and that the insurance company very rarel ask for the fire report.

He could take your damage deposit AND to court for the remainder, as G_M says. I hope it wasn't your cigarette, it was one of your housemates and they have now realised it's time to quit!