Your Board is concerned over the increased frequency of water claims. So, we put together a 3-part blog article that we hope will answer your questions if you are ever in a situation where water has somehow entered your apartment potentially causing damage.
1. FIND THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK
The first step is to stop the cause of the claim. If water is on the floor, look under sinks for leaks, check the bathtubs, look for a busted pipe behind the fridge, etc. Call a plumber immediately if you can’t turn off the water. Explain the extent of water damage in your condo and the need to make repairs as quickly as possible. If you notice water coming from the ceiling or down the walls and the Resident Manager isn’t available, knock on your upstairs neighbor’s door. The upstairs neighbor might not know there’s a problem, so reach out.
2. CALL THE RESIDENT MANAGER
If the neighbor can’t stop the leak, alert the RM right away. The RM will check for damage to units above, below and on the side of your unit to determine who else might be affected.
3. TAKE CARE OF CLEANUP ASAP
Even minor damage needs to be addressed quickly to discourage mold and mildew growth. Take care of water damage cleanup as soon as possible. To assist you, the RM has a list of licensed restoration contractors/extractors that do cleanup and dry out your unit, many of whom have previously worked on the building. Most mitigation companies will wait to get their money until the claim is settled.
4. CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE AGENT
Don’t assume the owners of the upstairs condo or the Association will reimburse you for water damages. Call your insurance agent, and start the claims process. The RM will submit an incident report to the Board and Account Executive.
5. REVIEW THE AOAO’S MASTER POLICY
Contact the Account Executive and request two copies of their master insurance policy. Forward one to your insurance agent so that he or she can determine its coverage and any Association liability.
Next week we’ll discuss the type of insurance policy you should have.