Landlord responsible for fire damage?

Maree asks:
(updated on Sunday, December 22nd 2013)

If a rental house burns down due to faulty wiring who is responsible for the damage to the tenant's property? I.e. a car in the driveway destroyed due to the house burning down.

Our Experts Answer:

The tenant should have their own insurance policy to cover their own possessions. The landlord is not liable for the losses incurred, however, if the landlord was aware that there had been a ‘problem’ with the wiring and had made no effort to repair, he could be held out as being negligent and liable for all costs.

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