Liable for damage to our rental

Tatiana asks:
(updated on Tuesday, December 24th 2013)

We crashed into our landlord's garage door. Our insurance company won't pay for the damage but my landlord's insurance company will pay for part of the repairs. The landlord has asked us to pay for the other part, but without showing us his insurance company's evaluation. Should we pay for it without checking the evaluation? Can the insurance company also charge us for the repair fees?

Our Experts Answer:

On the information you have supplied, I suggest you go back to your insurance company and ask why they won’t cover. Your car insurance or contents insurance should give you legal liability cover in this instance.  However, in the event they don’t, yes you should always check out costs that you are liable for.  The landlord's insurance company can, and more than likely will, want reimbursement of the costs they have paid for the landlord.

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