Any Insurance Specialists Out There?

I inherited a condo in Florida from my mother. I had insurance on the condo until 2010. One day when I was down there, I noticed water in one hallway. I mopped it up and went back home. When I spoke to a handy man that had the key to the condo, he said he thought our water heater was leaking. So I paid him and my mother's housekeeper to vacuum up the water and replace the water heater.

After a few weeks, the water was still pouring into the condo from above my water tank. When my grand niece came into the condo to inspect it, the water had not only flooded the hallway, but had also started wetting the carpet in the two bedrooms. One of the people with her and her lawyer shut off the water to the condo. A few weeks later, there was still water leaking into the condo. Obviously, it wasn't my water tank since it had been replaced and the water was shut off. I again sent people into the condo to vacuum up the water and clean up the mold that was forming as a result of the leak. It seems that the leak was either coming from the pipes between the floors or from my upstairs neighbor.

I feel the condo association should clean up the mess and take care of any damage that resulted from the leak.

But since I had insurance on the condo at the time of the leak, can I still make a claim even though I don't have insurance on the condo now? I was insured at the time of the leak. Do I have a leg to stand on in order to make this claim if the association doesn't take care of it? Since I hardly go down to Florida to check on things, and only can go by what my handyman says or a neighbor who's familiar with the condo, what can I do after so many years have passed? All help would be appreciated.

I'm no expert - guessing that you should have claimed while the policy was in force - or supply a valid reason why they are still liable on an expired policy.
I hope that I am wrong
Good luck with it

I'm no expert either, but I agree with your common sense.

But if the policy was in force at the time of the damage, I think they should be liable. If anything the condo association is definitely liable. I'll let yo know tomorrow when I call them. Apparently the same thin has happened to another unit there and the condo ass'n fixed it. Let's hope they do the same for me.,

Seems to me that the Condo Association is a safer bet. Best wishes for a favourable outcome tomorrow.

I hope so. I don't know how this thing will turn out, but I don't feel like sinking $3000 into a condo that I'm ready to sell. Prices have fallen so much and I'm glad a neighbor is interested in buying the condo. I mean, for $19,000, it's a cheap price to put a roof over you head.

$19,000?

Kind of ironic.

I made a contract offer today on a condo in the Fort Lauderdale area. About 780 square feet. $22,500.

Kind of excited, since the HOA and taxes are really inexpensive. What I've been paying for rent alone will more than pay for it in less than 3 years. And, I'll easily "save" more than $400/month on my housing, after fees, taxes, insurance, etc.

Anyways..... back to the original topic.....

During my lengthy discussion while doing paperwork in his office, after viewing, with the realtor, this specific scenario came up. (Not the insurance aspect)

I was told that the owner is responsible for all issues "inside the paint", and the condo/association for anything "outside the paint". Just think it's somewhat ironic that I asked about a plumbing leak occuring "before the toilet or hot water heater inflow". The realtor was adamant that the condo/HOA/association should be responsible.

But, he also stated that if I was "deliquent" in HOA, Condo, or Association fees, I "may" have problems.

As for the insurance issue, it's alway worth taking a shot and filing a claim. However, "proof" may be difficult. And you do know/realize they don't want to help you.

Being an absentee owner, you may have to prove some sort of "diligence". Someone "regularly" checks the place for problems when out of town, etc. And that may raise a liability issue against that person.

This has raised a couple more questions I "need" answers too. I'll pester the realtor again in the morning. LOL

Thanks and good luck.

I'm pretty sure if the policy was in effect at the time of the leak,that ins co is liable for it. It would be just like if you switched ins co.s and you went to file with them,they would say not only say no but hell no,the other co that sold the policy covering you at that time is liable. Noe proving that a leak occured at that time might prove difficult if not impossible. I'm sure their reaction will be 'why didn't you make a claim then?'.

Ins. co.s are pretty particular about dates that a policy is in effect.

J

Bags, I guess a good question would be, why did you drop insurance on a property you own?