When overnight guests become insurance risks
Why condo owners and condo tenants should carefully read the rental part of their bylaws and leases
When a younger cousin needed a place to stay, her older cousin opened the door and welcomed this new guest into his condo rental. The arrangement went OK at first, until the younger cousin decided to iron on the living room carpeted floor. Shortly after, a rug from a separate room appeared on the floor. The older cousin lifted this out-of-place rug up to find a burn mark on the carpet underneath. As one would expect, an argument broke out about respect for people’s property, why ironing boards were invented and how the iron stain “wasn’t a big deal.” Except it could have been.
Recommended Read: “5 often-overlooked fire hazards in your home ~ From laundry lint to light bulbs and towel racks, keep your home safe from avoidable homeowners insurance claims”
If an iron is left face-down on clothing, carpet or a rug, it can scorch the material and potentially ignite. And depending on what’s nearby, a small fire hazard might ignite something that’s far bigger and more dangerous. Electrical fires notoriously start from faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, worn-out outlets — and neglect.
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In this case, the two were arguing over something fairly harmless (asthetics over a carpet burn). Still, the multi-night stay wasn’t working out. He wanted her to find a new place to live. And while he initially thought overnight guests were allowed and their arguments were private, neighbors started to complain. Eventually, that reached the condo landlord, who had to remind the tenant of one little catch in their tenant agreement: overnight guest policies.
While tenants can pretty much always have overnight guests, there does come a time when a guest has stayed so long that this person may as well be a second tenant. And if the guest is around more than the actual tenant, whose name is on the lease, this can easily blur the lines between an Airbnb guest or a subletting agreement.
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Even condo owners may face this obstacle, specifically if the condo board requires review or a copy of any rental lease. Generally, two weeks (14 days) is the maximum amount of time before a “guest” becomes a resident — although state laws and leases may vary.
Why reviewing your homeowners insurance is recommended when new residents move in, including guests who overstay their visit
In addition to mortgage companies requiring homeowners insurance and often paying for the service in the escrow account, there are other reasons to always have homeowners insurance: liability coverage, personal property protection, landlord insurance and (for those who contribute financially) occupancy changes.
And if an injury were to occur to someone who is not on the homeowners insurance, this could too easily be an excuse for a homeowners insurance company to not pay up.