So we had a small fire this week at one of our units. Nothing major. Just cosmetic damage. Everyone was fine and walked away unharmed. We have been getting people in as quickly as possible to begin repairs, all while dealing with the fire marshal and working on insurance issues. I suggested the tenants get a hold of their insurance agents to get an adjuster there for their renters insurance to make sure they were covered. Should be simple right? Nope. Never is.
First the tenants inform me that they are not filing this with their insurance because the fire wasn't their fault. It was a trash can fire in their loft. Their thought and reasoning is they weren't home when it started, so it isn't their fault. I explain that it doesn't matter if they were home, and it isn't about fault. It is about making sure all of their stuff is covered. One of them at this point tells me that he is pretty sure we have to cover any damage and what not. I try to explain that no, we won't cover their stuff. That is exactly what renters insurance is for.
So of course one of the moms call me. And she is of course an attorney. (too much face palm) She wants to know why we are removing evidence from her sons loft. I explained that the fire marshal had already been there and taken pictures and had told me he wasn't coming back. I explained that we had taken a million pictures and that everything that was removed will be kept at our office in the even that the fire marshal wants it. I also suggest to her that they contact their insurance company so that their adjuster can come and assess any damage. She too tells me they will not be paying for a thing. And she just can't understand why we are trying to pin this on the boys. They weren't even home.
So I explain to this mom and lawyer that I am not trying to pin blame or anything on anyone. I am not removing 'evidence' I am trying to follow a procedure. There has been a fire. We are thankful that everyone is ok and there wasn't much damage. Insurance companies need to be called. And it doesn't matter if they were home. A fire started in their trash can. In their unit. That damaged their things. This is exactly what renters insurance is for. She, like her son, informs that is not what renters insurance is for.
Through all this I have encouraged the two boys not to stress out about this. It is getting repaired, the electrical has been inspected, and the unit is safe to live in while we do repairs. They need to focus on tests and finals. Not this. After all this encouragement I get angry calls from their mom about harassing them, and angry texts from the tenants about bothering them with all this during finals.
I encourage them. I help them. I drove down here the night of the fire to make sure everyone was ok. I encouraged them to have their own insurance adjuster come look so they don't feel like anything that happens going forward isn't correct. I suggest they call the fire department to get a copy of the marshals report. But I am awful. I am harassing. I don't know anything. I truly just can't win with these people.
