Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Virginia

We are currently renting a house with a detached carriage house and shed. On friday 04-23-11, the shed caught on fire and burned completely down destroying everything in and around it. We (foolishly) were in process of getting (in May) our renters insurance. The fire chief / inspector stated the fire was accidenta and electrical. Our landlord wants us to pay the deductables for his homeowners and the neighbors homeowners... My question is, if the fire was electrical, that would be the responsibility of our landlord wouldn't it? We're out $60,000 in tools and machines and I can understand how that is our own falt... I just can't see us having to pay everyone elses deductibles. Can you shed some light on this situation please.

Thank you

Sharon


Asked on 4/26/11, 10:46 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

So, what does your lease have to say about it? Yes, it would seem that

liability should normally lie with the landlord for this kind of situation unless you as tenants provably did something (or failed to do something)that some how caused or contributed to the electrical glitch that sparked the fire.

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Answered on 4/26/11, 12:57 pm


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