My teenage daughter took a phone call from her BFF and left the bathtub running — now our apartment is flooded along with the unit below us. Am I responsible for my neighbor's water damage?

When the damage comes from you

When you live in a multi-unit building, there’s always the risk that an issue in an adjoining unit trickles down into yours, whether it’s water damage, smoke damage, insect infestations or something else. And on the flipside, if your unit is the source of the damage, it could impact surrounding units as well.

Generally, if your actions or negligence cause damage to a neighbor’s unit, then you’re the one responsible for picking up the tab for repairs. But in this context, being responsible for the damage may boil down to paying a deductible for an insurance claim.

The purpose of insurance is to cover damage to your home due to circumstances beyond your control. But it’s also generally meant to cover damages caused by an accident.

If you intentionally cause damage to your home, your insurer may deny your claim. But in a case like this where your teen got distracted and let the tub overflow, there’s a good chance your insurance policy would kick in and cover the cost of repairs, leaving you to foot the bill for your deductible only.

However, your neighbor might also file an insurance claim to cover the cost of damages. And their insurer could go after yours to pay.

This doesn’t mean you’ll have to hand over a second deductible. However, there’s the possibility of further consequences, such as your premium rising.

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Make sure you have the right insurance

If you own a standalone home, you'll typically need a traditional homeowners insurance policy. If you rent an apartment or own a condo, renters or condo insurance may be more appropriate.

Condos are generally operated by a homeowners association that contributes to the building’s insurance. So, in this case, you may only need a policy that's limited to covering the interior of your unit. Renters insurance similarly covers your property in a unit.

But even if you have insurance and your neighbor has the same, they'd generally file a claim with their own insurer in a situation like the one above, and their insurance company would then generally seek to get repaid from yours.

If you want to minimize water damage in your home — and surrounding units in your building — it’s a good idea to invest in a water leak sensor. These devices can sound an alarm when a problem is detected.

In the above scenario, had an alarm gone off, your teen may have realized their mistake earlier on and turned off the water, limiting the damage. Some models cost less than $50, making them a potentially worthwhile investment.