Q: What, if anything must a landlord provide to tenants in case of displacement due to fire, in a multi-unit dwelling?
Currently, there are 40 people displaced from my building due to a fire on October 19, 2018. The Fire Marshall has red tagged the building and determined the cause of the fire to be negligence by unlicensed contractors, hired by the owner to renovate an empty unit in the building. Currently, the owners have offered pro-rated rent for the days we have not been able to occupy our homes. Are they required to offer financial assistance for displacement? Currently the building is red tagged for safety and the representative for the owner said the timeline is indefinite.
A: The landlord should consult with his insurance company to find out whether his policy can provide temporary shelter for the displaced families. The benefits would be the difference of the normal rent and the rent for the new dwelling. Since the damage was caused by unlicensed contractors, the owners may be on the hook if they knowingly hired said contractors.
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