Ex-Cyclone Alfred; What Now?

As the rain begins to ease, and everything starts to dry out, much of Southeast Queensland are this week dealing with the aftermath of ex-cyclone Alfred. Whilst we hope everyone was ok during the cyclone and rain, and experienced little to no damage, others weren’t so lucky with gale force winds, flash flooding, fallen or broken trees along with no electricity.  A few tips for homeowners and tenants alike as to what now?  If you’re a homeowner and have experienced property damage, obviously first thing is to lodge an insurance claim to get the ball rolling.  Take photos of the property and the damage before cleaning up. We know insurance companies will be in-undated with claims at this time, and it may take time for your property to be assessed and repaired and we all know we can’t wait for that to happen. So, take photos of the evidence before cleaning up and repairing any damage. If you’re a tenant and your property was damaged, again, take photos or video to pass on to your property manager and please contact them at your earliest opportunity to let them know what has happened and the severity for repairs and maintenance etc.  Whilst the property owner may have insurance that might cover property damage, this may not cover your own personal belongings or accommodation if you need to find temporary accommodation so it's important to understand your own position. After an event such as a flood or cyclone a tenancy can be terminated if a property is: Completely or partially destroyed, Deemed unfit for occupation, No longer legally habitable. A tenant must issue a Notice of Intention to Leave (Form 13) or the property manager must issue a Notice to Leave (Form 12) within one month of the flood event. If the landlord and tenant mutually agree to end the tenancy, a written agreement should be documented. Repairs and MaintenanceLandlord’s Duty: Owners must cover repairs related to the structure, including walls, roofs, and essential services like electricity and plumbing. Tenant’s Duty: Tenants are responsible for cleaning or replacing personal belongings damaged by the flood. They should contact their own insurer for coverage. Mould & Vermin Control: If mould results from flooding, the landlord is typically responsible for its removal, as it affects habitability. Rent Reductions and Compensation - If a rental property remains partially habitable, landlords may negotiate a rent reduction. Factors to consider include: Loss of essential services (water, electricity, etc.). Inability to use certain parts of the home (e.g., kitchen or bathroom). Temporary relocation requirements for tenants. The Residential Tenancy Authority (RTA) has a suite of resources that may be helpful for anyone impacted by the cyclone. These resources include the natural disaster web page, the natural disaster fact sheet and a step-by-step guide for tenants and property managers/owners impacted by natural disasters. There are web pages explaining when a property becomes unliveable, how to deal with mould and yard and garden maintenance. The RTA also provides a free and impartial dispute resolution service to help people work through rental issues if agreement cannot be reached. It’s important to remember that at times like this, having good communication between tenant, owner and property manager is essential to getting things back to normal as soon as possible. Real Estate businesses and individual professionals have time and time again shown their support and assistance to the community in times of need and this time is no different and if you need any assistance, please feel free to contact The Real Estate Firm.