4 Tips for Renters Recovering from Natural Disasters

If you or someone you care about rent a home, it can be nerve-wracking to think about a disaster damaging your property. It can be harder still to know what to do after your property gets damaged. 

Knowing what to do can’t lessen the impact of a natural disaster, but it can help you recover more quickly and bring you some peace of mind.

What’s the financial impact of climate change on renters?

Climate change is a reality we all should be preparing for, no matter our living situation. However, if you rent your home, it’s important to take additional steps to prepare for severe weather.

Why? Because SaverLife members who identify as renters are 93% more likely than homeowners to describe their financial situations as not having enough to make ends meet. In fact, 55% of renters worry about having enough money to make ends meet all the time.

When weighing out their ability to prepare for climate change and still maintain financial stability, renters were also 65% more likely to say that they can’t afford any of the costs associated with a natural disaster. This means that if their lives were disrupted by a severe weather event, more than half of renters wouldn’t be able to recover financially.

Here are 4 tips for renters recovering from natural disasters:

1. Inspect the Property for Damage

One of the first things to do after a natural disaster is to inspect the property for damages. It’s important to know what damage has been caused because it will be useful when you talk to your your landlord and your renters insurance company.

Walk around the property to see what damage has been done and if there are any immediate hazards. Make a list of the damages to the property and structure, and write down any problems you see. If possible, take videos or pictures of the damage. 

Look through the entire property to spot things like water damage in the ceiling, problems in the crawl space (if the property has one), and damage to any outbuildings or landscaping. Pay attention to downed trees that could impact the property or the surrounding roads and power lines 

2. Review Your Lease

Once you’ve inspected your property for damages, look at your lease to understand what repairs your landlord is responsible for and what, if any, repairs you’re responsible for. 

There are also key terms to review in your lease. First, your lease might mention rent abatement. This is a part of your lease that allows you to only pay a portion of your rent while the property is being repaired. Understanding what rent abatement your lease includes will be helpful when you speak with your landlord. 

Another item to review in your lease is lease termination. Your lease won’t simply be terminated because the property has been damaged or is uninhabitable. Your lease should outline how you can terminate your lease. Understanding your options for terminating your lease can help you decide how to move forward if your property is unlivable. 

You can also review your lease to see if there are circumstances like natural disasters that will let you get your security deposit back.

3. Contact Your Landlord

After you’ve inspected the property and reviewed your lease,  contact your landlord to let them know what has happened. Share the list of damages as well as any photos or videos you’ve taken. This will help them understand what needs to be fixed. 

When you speak with your landlord, you can talk to them about their plans regarding repairs. Ask to be kept up to date as repairs are planned. 

In addition to calling your landlord, you can send them a letter outlining the damages and your requested repairs. Consider sending the letter via a certified mail service so that you’ll receive confirmation when it’s delivered. This is especially important if you’re concerned about your landlord not responding or if you want a written record of your request.  Keep the receipt for your records.

If your lease has abatement or termination provisions, when you talk to your landlord, you can discuss those provisions with them. As the damage is assessed, your landlord can help you understand how abatement works in your case. 

Alternatively, if the property is uninhabitable and will remain that way for a while, you can talk about the terms of terminating the lease and the possibility of getting your security deposit back. 

4. Contact Your Insurance Company

If you have renter’s insurance, reach out to your insurance provider after a natural disaster. It’s important to note that renter’s insurance typically doesn’t cover damage to the structure or property; instead, the landlord’s insurance will cover this. 

Your renter’s policy will cover damages to your personal property, like furniture, electronics, or other belongings. Be sure to document the damage to your personal property in writing, and take photos if you can. Then reach out to your insurance provider to file a claim. Ask them exactly what information you need to submit to file your claim and when you can expect to receive payment. 

If you have immediate needs, see if your insurance company can get you an advance for necessities. Be sure to keep the receipts if they do so you can verify your purchases.

Climate Change Doesn’t Have to Disrupt Your Financial Health

There are lots of things to attend to and take care of if you experience a natural disaster. You can take steps to recover from the weather event by:

• First and foremost, making sure you and your loved ones are safe
• Taking time to document all the damage to the property
• Checking the entire property carefully so you don’t miss anything and so you can be sure everything gets fixed
• Reviewing your lease. Pay special attention to three provisions: the rent abatement provision, the lease termination provision, and any provision around your security deposit. This will help you be prepared to have a conversation with your landlord
• Talking to your landlord and explaining the damage you’ve noted on the property. Then discussing your lease, the abatement, and termination provisions
• Reaching out to your renters insurance company to file a claim for any damage to your personal property

Responding to a natural disaster can be overwhelming if you already have a full schedule and tight budget. But there are small steps you can take right away to start reclaiming your daily routine and your financial health from the impacts of climate change.

Are you a renter who’s experienced a severe weather event? SaverLife would love to hear from you. Submit this five-minute survey to share your story with our team.