My family lost all our belongings in an apartment fire, the cause of thefire was faulty wireing?

Question

In Sept. 2007 my family lost all our belongings in an apartment fire in Roseville, Ca. The fire chief stated the cause of the fire was faulty wiring in the wall between my apartment and the adjoining one. I was told by a lawyer that i could not get any compensation for our things that they only have insurance for the buildings and not the contents. We did not have renters insurance. I feel that since it was the complexes fault that they should have to take responsibility and compensate me. We not only lost all our belongings we also lost our 2 family pets, We were not home at the time of the fire. Please send replies to [e-mail].

Answer 1

The landlord had no idea there was faulty wiring in the wall.  Your assuming they new and for that they need to compensate you.  that's not how it works read your lease most of them state they wont be responsible for your items if a disaster occurs.  Next time think about purchasing renters insurance.

Answer 2

How many times are you going to ask this?

Either you need to have written proof the apartment knew there was a wiring problem and failed to fix it in order to pursue legal action or you’re SOL because you failed to buy renter’s insurance. You can’t hold your landlord responsible for what is seemingly an accident. If a water pipe had burst & your belongings destroyed that way, you’d be equally out of luck.

Your landlord is never responsible for your belongings. The only way to recoup any losses is to prove negligence on the landlord’s part, and the only way to do that is to prove he knew the wiring was had and didn’t repair the issue. Good luck with that!

Answer 3

I would contact a lawyer and see, but as far as I know, if your rent an apartment, you must have renter's insurance on all the things inside the home, because it doesnt' matter if something happens that wasn't your fault their insurance doesn't have to cover it, and you are out your loses.  

Answer 4

I believe I answered this question yesterday...

Contact a lawyer.

Answer 5

that's why you need renters insurance

Answer 6

The attorney was correct.  The cause of the fire is not relevant as to whether or not you receive compensation for your loss.  This is why renter's insurance exists.  The owner of the premises does not bear liability for the costs of your losses.  His insurance covers HIS interests in the property and not yours.  

The insurance carried by the complex is standard, and is not unusual.  This is why I advise my tenants in WRITING (and cause them to sign the warning) that renter's insurance is very advisable.

Sad to say, you are learning a very expensive lesson in renting living accommodations.

No matter how many times you ask this question, or how differently you phrase it, the answers won't change.  The liability laws are VERY clear on this.  The complex is NOT financially responsible for YOUR belongings.  That is YOUR responsibility.

Answer 7

Someone, maybe you, asked this recently.

The reason you have insurance is for accidents.

You made the choice not to insure your belongings, which is your right.   However, having made that choice does not give you the right to expect anything from others.

I know it is frustrating, but you need to take responsibility for your own decision not to get insurance.

No one is at fault for a wiring problem that no one knew anything about.  Accidents happen, sometimes accidents cause fires.    We have fire departments to handle them when they occur and insurance to cover our losses.

It is time for you to move on.   You suffered a loss, and hopefully learned to take responsibility and insure yourself and your family, but you need to let go and move on with life.     Their are no pockets here for you to raid.