Q: A tenant's washing machine flooded the unit - is the Tenant responsible for paying for the clean-up/repairs?
The Tenant had thought she left for many hours, turned it on and had fixed her malfunctioning washing machine. The machine flooded the finished basement area, including 3 rooms, carpeting, padding, floorboards etc....water extraction, carpet pad replacement, floorboard removal, dryout and replacement was needed. Tenant maintains she is not liable for the repair invoice. Since this was her washing machine, not provided by the owner, I consider that she's responsible. Please counsel who's correct. The lease states tenant responsible for damages beyond ordinary wear and tear of a house. This is in Atlanta, GA. Thank youLawyer Solution Paula J. Mcgill
A: It was her washing machine and if you're the landlord, you have strong case to sue her for damages as a result of her malfunctioning gear. She should have renter's insurance. This is why a lot of leases require tenants to possess insurance for issues like this.