If you rent in a multi-unit building

Renters face water damage with different responsibilities than owners. Start here.

  1. Report it to the landlord or manager right away

    Use the emergency maintenance line if there is one, then follow up in writing. Leases usually require prompt notice of leaks.

  2. Protect your own belongings

    Move electronics, documents and furniture away from the water. Take photos of everything that got wet.

  3. Call your renters insurer

    The landlord's policy generally covers the building, not your belongings. Renters insurance may cover your property and extra living costs if the unit is unlivable.

  4. Ask about the drying plan

    Ask who is drying the unit, how long equipment will run, and whether you can stay. Request copies of moisture readings if mold is a worry.

  5. Keep records of extra costs

    Hotel nights, meals and laundry may be claimable under renters coverage. Rent abatement is a lease question for the landlord.

Why Lone Tree's housing mix matters

Lone Tree incorporated as a city in the 1990s and has grown quickly since, with a mix of single-family neighborhoods and a large number of attached and multi-family homes. In a stacked building, water from one unit's dishwasher or toilet travels down through the floor-ceiling assembly into the unit below, sometimes two floors down. Fire sprinkler heads, required in many multi-family buildings, can also discharge if they are damaged or frozen, and they release a lot of water quickly.

Owners in condos and townhomes deal with an HOA master policy and their own HO-6 policy, and the declaration decides which covers drywall, flooring and cabinets. Renters deal with a landlord, who is responsible for the building, and their own renters policy for belongings.

Because Lone Tree is a city, building permit questions go to the City of Lone Tree. Ask the city which office handles building permits for repairs inside a unit.

Questions for a building manager after a leak

  1. Which unit was the source, and has the water been shut off there?
  2. Is the building's restoration contractor checking ceilings and walls in the units below and beside mine?
  3. If a sprinkler head was involved, who resets the system and when?
  4. Will I get notice before anyone enters my unit for drying or repairs?
  5. How will the association or landlord decide who pays for my unit's interior repairs?

Policies at a glance

Landlord's policy
Covers the building the landlord owns. Generally not tenants' belongings.
Renters policy
Covers a renter's belongings, liability, and often extra living expenses.
HOA master policy
Covers what the declaration assigns to the association, which may or may not include unit interiors.
HO-6 policy
Covers the condo or townhome owner's share: often interior finishes, contents and liability.
Map of Lone Tree. It shows an area, not an office or a job site.

General information for Parker, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.