Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in New York
Accidental Apartment Fire Rights
I think I caused an accidental candle
fire in my friend's apartment. Should
her apartment's insurance company
cover the structural damage in her
apartment regardless, or is she
responsible for returning the
apartment to its original condition?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Accidental Apartment Fire Rights
Your friend's liability for the apartment, if any, will depend on the language in her lease. In general, tenants are not responsible for "normal wear and tear" damage in an apartment. The fire is clearly not "normal wear and tear", and if the landlord (or the landlord's insurance company) learns that the fire was caused by you, either of them could consider a lawsuit against either your friend or you, or both. This is a sticky situation for you and your friend, and you should at this point consult with a lawyer to discuss how to minimize your potential liability.
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