What To Do If Your Rental Floods
It’s a nightmare scenario that no one ever wants to have to happen to them — flooding. Beyond damaging your possessions, flooding can put you in danger, disrupt your way of life, and have lasting, long-term consequences.
There are important differences in how you should deal with a flood depending on whether you rent or own your home. These differences can have significant implications for the effectiveness of the restoration process.
Savannah Water Damage Restoration
From our water damage restoration experts at Harper Special Services, here are the steps we recommend for dealing with your rental if it floods.
Safety First
Flooding can be very hazardous. Even if the flood is limited to just a small amount of water, that water can be contaminated with dangerous bacteria or can cause other health hazards throughout your home. Thus, it’s essential that you prioritize safety above all else. Fortunately, this is usually pretty simple and you can avoid most threats by simply staying away from the floodwater. Don’t let the simplicity fool you though! This is still a mistake that many people make.
Identify The Source Of The Flood
Once your safety is ensured, the very next step is locating the source of the flood and shutting off the water as soon as possible. Doing this as swiftly as possible is essential since the sooner you stop the flood the less water there will be wreaking havoc in your home. If you have access to the water shut-off valve in your apartment, you can also look for that to stop any flooding that may be originating from your own water.
Contact Your Landlord
The next step is contacting your landlord to inform them of the problem. They will know what to do next and will be able to quickly, get a restoration crew out to your apartment. The sooner you call, the less damage there will be, and the sooner you can get your apartment back to normal.
Notify Your Neighbors
If you live in an apartment surrounded by neighbors, they may also be dealing with the same water damage problem. Notifying them can help them save their valuable possessions and limit the amount of damage in their home. If the floodwater contains dangerous contaminants you may also be helping preserve their health.
Secure Your Belongings
Next, to the extent possible, you should secure your personal belongings to prevent permanent water damage. This means removing any valuables that have already been affected by the flood or moving anything else that is vulnerable to water damage to higher ground. The sooner you do this, the more likely it will be that your possessions are not permanently damaged.
Overall, your response to a flood will be similar whether you rent or own your home. However, there are important differences between the two. At Harper Special Services, we hope you find the tips above helpful for dealing with a flooded rental and making the best of a bad situation. If you’re in need of some water damage services, feel free to call us anytime, 24-7.