A Calgary couple who rented out their home is on the hook for damages to the property after their tenant skipped out on them.
Mike Brown and Damara Banks are facing about $20,000 in repair costs after their tenant left their home in very poor condition.
The couple originally rented out their property to the tenant back in March 2017; both Brown and Banks chose to put their home up for rent since they had to relocate to Grande Prairie for work.
The tenant had mentioned moving out of the house by early 2019; anticipating this, the couple dropped by around December 28, 2018 to check in. Not only did they find the tenant missing, the house was also in disrepair.
“The first thing that hit you [was] the smell,” Brown told Global News.
Dogs had ruined portions of the property, chewing holes in the walls, as well as urinating and defecating throughout the home.
Not even the second floor of the house was spared.
“The floors upstairs need to be completely redone, half the drywall has to be replaced,” Banks remarked. “[Repairs will cost] probably about $20,000 when all is said and done.”
A crew hired to help clean and fix the property also mentioned how the fridge was so “disgusting,” that the cost to clean it would be more than the cost to buy a new one.
The couple thought that the damages would be covered by landlord’s insurance. However, an adjustor told them that they would have to pay for their own repairs and cleanup.
“[He told us] it’s just pure negligence, nothing malicious about it,” Brown recounted. “So there’s no coverage. It’s a tough pill to swallow.”
“This is why it’s so important to check with your insurance company,” said Calgary Residential Rental Association executive director Gerry Baxter. “Find out exactly what’s covered.”
Baxter added that it is important for landlords to take legal action against tenants who cause damage to the property.
