Renters and condos
After a pipe leak in my rental, whose insurance handles the building and whose handles my belongings?
Report the damage to the landlord or manager and your renters insurer, and keep photos and an item list. The landlord's building policy and your renters policy protect different interests: renters coverage generally addresses belongings and may include liability and temporary living expenses, subject to its terms. Do not assume the building's policy replaces your possessions, or that renting automatically makes you responsible for all repairs. Ask who is authorizing building work; responsibility for the loss needs a separate review of the cause, lease and applicable law.
My condo insurer and association each say the other policy should handle water damage. What should I gather?
Ask the association for the master-policy details and relevant declaration or bylaws, then give them to your unit insurer along with photos and the proposed repair scope. Ask both insurers to identify which damaged items, deductibles and assessments they are addressing. A master policy can cover parts of a unit as well as common areas; a unit policy may cover belongings, improvements and other losses. The dividing line is not simply 'inside versus outside.' Illinois and Maryland guidance illustrate different state requirements, so use the rules for your property.
The water came from my neighbor's condo. Must I wait for their insurer to accept responsibility?
Notify your own insurer and the association promptly rather than making repairs depend on a neighbor's response. Document the source and damage, and ask who will coordinate necessary mitigation. Coverage for your property, legal responsibility for the leak and recovery of a deductible are separate questions. For Illinois condos, the statutory insurance provisions and association documents affect master coverage and deductible allocation; the source of water alone is not a complete answer. Ask for the proposed allocation in writing and get state-regulator or legal help if it remains disputed.