Question
Questions about the basement I rent and flood damage?
I was renting a basement apartment in a house in Georgia. On monday it flooded with over three feet of water. I lost most of my possessions. I have several questions about this... ANY answers or help would be appreciated. 1. How can I find out if this was a legal apartment to rent? There was one door to the outside and two windows but the back bedroom and hallway had no windows and only a door to the landlords part of the house that was kept locked. 2. How can I get out of the lease? My landlord says I owe two months rent if I break the lease. How can this be when we cannot live there because of the damage? We do not want to move back in because she is just using the same carpet from the flood and drying it and cleaning it. Isnt that unsanitary? 3. Is there any way I can get money from the landlord or the government to help cover some of what I lost? 4. How do I find out what the EPA laws are for mold prevention after a flood? THANK YOU
2 months ago - 4 answers
Best Answer
Chosen by Asker
1. Call your local building department 2. The building department will determine if the apartment is habitable. If it's not, then you can legally get out of your lease. 3. No. Your renters insurance should cover all of your personal property. The landlord and government are not responsible for your personal property. 4. Call the EPA.
by reenzz
2 months ago
Asker's Rating: 
Other Answers
I can tell you already it was/is an illegal apartment, juts due to the fact the bedrooms didn't have any windows. You will probably have to sue your landlord, but he should be responsible for all your damages. Take lots of pictures!! Call code enforcement for your town/city and ask them to come and inspect it. Yes, it is unsafe to re-install carpets that have been water damaged like that. As far as the lease goes, just leave, and sue the landlord. He will probably counter sue for lost rent, but he will lose.
by LoneRanger- 2 months ago
I don't see a problem with the property regarding windows and doors. Check your county code online or call the county building code office. The lease deal is pretty lame if they won't let you out when it's not usable and you lost all your stuff. An attorney would have to answer that one, but you might have a way out there. Unless you carried renter's insurance, you're on your own for lost items. Get renter's insurance next time, it's quite cheap. Carpets can be professionally cleaned after a flood, but if they were contaminated by sewage they should be tossed.
by Jay S- 2 months ago
1 - Check your building and fire code, I know for a fact that most codes demand that a basement which has a bedroom needs two ways out, usually a door and an egress window. If this basement had none your apartment is probably illegal. 2- Lease terms can't be enforced if the property is rendered inhabitable by any circumstances. Period. Also according to the Center for Disease Control, any carpet or porous organic surface that got wet and did not dry within 48 hours must be removed and discarded due to mold concerns. And depending on the sort of flood, it is terribly unsanitary as well. 3 - Depending on the kind of flood it was and what caused it you might have a claim. If the flood was caused by deficiency in the landlord's property, like a broken or absent drainage system, a broken pipe, etc his homeowners insurance might cover the damages depending on his policy. If it was his negligence of failure to maintain the property, you might recover some if you sue him. If the flood was caused by a problem in the city water or sewage system, you might recover some from the city However if the flood was a natural disaster, like a strong rain or something, you might be able to recover some if the homeowner is insured against flood or if there is a relief fund program in your area. If you are on a budget and can't replace the items you lost, the Salvation Army in your area might be able to help with some basic items, like bedding, furniture, clothing. Call the housing authority, call Infoline in your area, ask around for help. As in everything, the wheel that squeks is the one that gets the grease. I wish you good luck.
by BasementGal- 2 months ago