My investment house is in danger! Our tenant is careless, causing burns to the carpet, walls, and has even?

Question

caught her curtains on fire with an unattended candle. I'm scared to death that the next time will be be it. I have to make sure I have proper insurance, and what I can do. I have called the courthouse about evicting, and they say as long as she pays her rent I'm stuck. I have a landlord policy on the house, and I have required her to get a renters policy. Any other ideas? Can anyone tell me what would happen if she caught the house on fire again and it was more catastrophic? I'm PANICKED!

Answer 1

This is the risk you take when you decide to be a landlord.  All you can do is notify her that you will not renew or extend the lease.

Answer 2

Is your tenant on a lease or a month to month agreement?  If she is on a month to month you can give her a 30 day notice. If you have a copy of the renter's insurance policy, you should call the company to make sure the policy is still in force.  However, I think renter's policies only cover the contents (her stuff), not yours.

Answer 3

Well, you can't do anything.  

Likely, her liability policy isn't going to pay YOU anything.  Candles happen, ya know?

Yes, the number 1 cause of fires in residences is CANDLES!

If she burns your house down, you've got your landlord based property policy to cover you.  I really, really hope you have adequate limits, and you are comfortable with your deductible.  AND that you have loss of rental income coverage on the policy, as well.

Answer 4

you are smart to continue to make sure her renters policy in force.  check to make sure she had liability on that policy too!!!  as for your policy...talk to your agent.  since you have a landlord policy you need to make sure EXACTLY what you are covering.  some are very basic policies.  You need to be sure you have the property insured to replacement cost and that YOUR contents are covered. (ie: appliances, any furnishing you have in the home).  check your lease with her...did you put in any type of clause that gives you the right to evict if she is damaging the home? (do it next time)  these types of tenants are very dangerous to YOUR well being for insurance purposes.  If she does something to cause you to have to file claims while she lives there, you can have a problem finding insurance on the home in the future.